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Gunmen seize Nigerian chief's son | Gunmen seize Nigerian chief's son |
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Militants in Nigeria's troubled Niger Delta have seized the two-year-old son of a local chief, police say. | Militants in Nigeria's troubled Niger Delta have seized the two-year-old son of a local chief, police say. |
The son of Iriebe Chief Eze Francis Amadi was taken by gunmen as he was being driven to school, they say. | The son of Iriebe Chief Eze Francis Amadi was taken by gunmen as he was being driven to school, they say. |
The kidnapping comes four days after a three-year-old British girl was freed from four days in captivity in a case which shocked many Nigerians. | The kidnapping comes four days after a three-year-old British girl was freed from four days in captivity in a case which shocked many Nigerians. |
Militants often take oil workers hostage as part of their campaign to keep more oil money in the Delta. | Militants often take oil workers hostage as part of their campaign to keep more oil money in the Delta. |
The kidnappings and attacks on oil facilities have cut Nigeria's oil output by about 25% over the past year. | The kidnappings and attacks on oil facilities have cut Nigeria's oil output by about 25% over the past year. |
Weapons surrender | Weapons surrender |
Samuel Amadi was kidnapped by gunmen in two cars as he was on his way to school in Nigeria's oil capital, Port Harcourt, security sources have told the BBC. | |
The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar in Port Harcourt says the attack was similar to that in which Margaret Hill was taken last week. | |
At least three children have been taken hostage in the past month in the Delta - a new phenomenon. | |
Earlier, seven hostages taken captive last week were released, officials say, while a prominent militant leader called for an end to all kidnapping. | Earlier, seven hostages taken captive last week were released, officials say, while a prominent militant leader called for an end to all kidnapping. |
The hostages - five foreigners and two top Nigerian managers - were released to officials in Yenagoa and Port Harcourt, police told the BBC. | The hostages - five foreigners and two top Nigerian managers - were released to officials in Yenagoa and Port Harcourt, police told the BBC. |
The Nigerian hostages kidnapped last weekend were also handed to officials in oil capital, Port Harcourt. | The Nigerian hostages kidnapped last weekend were also handed to officials in oil capital, Port Harcourt. |
Tom Ateke, who heads a militant group in the volatile Niger Delta creeks, says he wants armed groups in the region to surrender their weapons and work with the new government in Rivers State. | Tom Ateke, who heads a militant group in the volatile Niger Delta creeks, says he wants armed groups in the region to surrender their weapons and work with the new government in Rivers State. |
Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer but most Niger Delta residents live in poverty - a situation the militants say is unfair. | |
But criminal gangs have also taken advantage of the lawlessness to kidnap oil workers for money. | |
More than 150 foreigners have been kidnapped in the volatile Niger Delta so far this year and about a dozen are still being held. | |
Hostages are usually released unharmed after ransom payments that Nigerian governments and oil companies involved always deny. | Hostages are usually released unharmed after ransom payments that Nigerian governments and oil companies involved always deny. |