| Still no contact between Nigerian authorities and abductors of three Filipinos and a German, all employees of oil firms in the oil-rich Niger Delta southern region.
Meanwhile, the local Guardian newspaper reported another armed attack against an unidentified installation of the Shell oil giant in the State of Imo. According to the paper, five employees of the SuryCom, a company that works with the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDL), were killed in the attack, on which there are no further details. As reported by local press, no official claim of responsibility for yesterday’s abduction has been received, which seems to exclude the MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta), the most political among the numerous groups active in the area. The kidnappings of oil workers, attacks and sabotage of oil interests are frequent in the Niger Delta region, where for years local groups have been battling for a more equal distribution of oil proceeds. The abduction of workers of oil multinationals is used as a political weapon by groups that demand major development in the southern regions, and as a key source of income by criminal gangs that normally release the hostages on payment of a ransom. Nigerian authorities are working with British and Philippines officials to attempt to locate the 4 foreigners. |
Aug62006