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Briton seized by Nigerian gunmen | |
(about 14 hours later) | |
A British national has been kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria, the Foreign Office has confirmed. | |
The victim was reportedly a former employee of the Indo Rama petrochemicals firm and was seized by a five-strong gang. | The victim was reportedly a former employee of the Indo Rama petrochemicals firm and was seized by a five-strong gang. |
More than 200 foreigners have been kidnapped by militants in the Niger Delta, the heart of the country's oil industry, since 2006. | More than 200 foreigners have been kidnapped by militants in the Niger Delta, the heart of the country's oil industry, since 2006. |
Almost all have been released but rebel action has disrupted oil supplies. | Almost all have been released but rebel action has disrupted oil supplies. |
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm a British national was kidnapped on 15 September in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. | |
"Nigerian authorities are taking the lead in the investigation into the incident and our officials are in touch with them." | |
The incident came as trouble escalated in the oil-rich West African country. | The incident came as trouble escalated in the oil-rich West African country. |
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed to have blown up a pipeline operated by Royal Dutch Shell, while security forces were said to have held off an armed attack on a Chevron Corporation oil platform. | The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed to have blown up a pipeline operated by Royal Dutch Shell, while security forces were said to have held off an armed attack on a Chevron Corporation oil platform. |
Gun battles along the region's rivers and creeks have left at least nine militants and several members of the armed forces dead, along with some civilians. | Gun battles along the region's rivers and creeks have left at least nine militants and several members of the armed forces dead, along with some civilians. |