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Nigerian attack closes oilfield Nigerian attack closes oilfield
(about 2 hours later)
Oil company Royal Dutch Shell says it has temporarily stopped production at its main offshore oilfield in Nigeria, following a militant attack.Oil company Royal Dutch Shell says it has temporarily stopped production at its main offshore oilfield in Nigeria, following a militant attack.
The raid took place overnight on the Bonga oil platform about 100km (65 miles) off the coast of the Niger Delta, the company said. The raid took place overnight on the Bonga oil platform about 120km (75 miles) off the coast of the Niger Delta, the company said.
It is the first attack on the oilfield, which normally produces about 200,000 barrels a day.It is the first attack on the oilfield, which normally produces about 200,000 barrels a day.
Attacks in the inshore Niger Delta have helped drive up the world oil prices.Attacks in the inshore Niger Delta have helped drive up the world oil prices.
Nigeria's valuable offshore oilfields had always been considered difficult for most militants to attack, the BBC's Alex Last reports from Lagos.Nigeria's valuable offshore oilfields had always been considered difficult for most militants to attack, the BBC's Alex Last reports from Lagos.
But for the first time in the early hours, gunmen in boats reached the Bonga installation, Shell's flagship project.But for the first time in the early hours, gunmen in boats reached the Bonga installation, Shell's flagship project.
A Nigerian navy spokesman confirmed reports that militants had kidnapped a US captain from a separate vessel on their way back from the attack.
Kidnap
The gunmen failed to get inside the platform, but attacked a key vessel used for production storage and offloading, a Shell spokesman said.
Several people were reported to have been injured.
Militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) claimed the attack, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Mend says it is campaigning for a greater share of the region's oil wealth to be kept by local people, but the government says they are criminals motivated by the ransoms they receive from oil companies.
The shutdown has cut a tenth of Nigeria's total output in one go.The shutdown has cut a tenth of Nigeria's total output in one go.
This comes on top of a reduction of at least 20% in recent years following inland attacks.This comes on top of a reduction of at least 20% in recent years following inland attacks.
Our correspondent says Bonga was new, expensive, and working well despite the difficulties and repeated attacks affecting the company's inshore operations in the Delta. Our correspondent says Bonga was new, expensive and working well despite the difficulties and repeated attacks affecting the company's inshore operations in the Delta.
The militants in the Delta are getting more sophisticated and better equipped and armed, he says.The militants in the Delta are getting more sophisticated and better equipped and armed, he says.
Now they have proven that in terms of distance at least, all of Nigeria's facilities are within their reach.Now they have proven that in terms of distance at least, all of Nigeria's facilities are within their reach.