World
 
|
Italian oil worker freed by Nigeria kidnappers
By Joel Olatunde Agoi
AFP
LAGOS
Petroleumworld.com 08 30 06
Niger Delta militants on Tuesday released an Italian oil worker who was kidnapped last week in the volatile oil-rich region, a government spokesman said.
"I can confirm to you that the man has been released," a spokesman for the Rivers State government told AFP by telephone from Port Harcourt, without giving details.
Three people -- including the Italian -- working for a subsidiary of the Italian oil group ENI were kidnapped in Port Harcourt by separatist fighters seeking local control of the region's huge oil wealth for the 14-million-strong Ijaws, Nigeria's fourth-largest ethnic group.
The armed men blocked the vehicle in which the three employees were travelling near their office in a Port Harcourt suburb, and killed one bodyguard.
An ethnic Ijaw group, Jomo Gbomo, had said in an email statement sent to AFP late Monday that the Italian would soon be released.
But there was no word as to the fate of the two men seized with him. Their identities and nationalities have not been specified.
"We have today directed the immediate and unconditional release of the Italian worker contracted to Saipem who was abducted on Thursday, August 24, 2006," the group said.
"This release will be effected any moment from now," it said.
Jomo Gbomo, which has successfully taken part in previous release of foreign oil workers taken prisoners in the volatile region, advised militants against further kidnappings and violence.
"Groups are advised to steer clear of kidnappings for ransoms, piracy and robberies as such acts will no longer be tolerated," it said.
"We understand the desire of all such groups in the delta to contribute to the struggle but will not accept such negative contributions that put the genuine agitation of the oppressed Niger delta people in bad light," it warned.
Around 40 foreign oil workers have been kidnapped in Nigeria since January, with around 15 abducted in the past two weeks by separatist militants seeking local control of the country's multi-billion-dollar oil and gas resources.
Most have been released unharmed after spending several days or even weeks in captivity.
Six foreign oil workers abducted by Niger Delta militants in the state of Rivers were released last Wednesday.
Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil producer, is the world's sixth biggest crude exporter with 2.6 million barrels per day, but 20 percent of that figure is currently lost to unrest in the region.
Port Harcourt is at the heart of the delta and has been the focus for kidnappings.
Several oil companies operating in Nigeria's lucrative oil and gas sector have their operational bases there.
Nigerian security forces have launched an aggressive manhunt for groups responsible for the kidnapping following a directive by President Olusegun Obasanjo to rid the region of separatist fighters seeking local control of the country's massive oil wealth.
AFP 29 1746 GMT 08 06
Copyright ©2006 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
Your
feedback is important to us!
We invite all our readers to share with us
their views and comments about this article.
Write to editor@petroleumworld.com
Any
question or suggestions, please write to:
editor@petroleumworld.com
Best
Viewed with IE
5.01+
Windows
NT 4.0, '95, '98 and ME +/ 800x600 pixels