This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6916080.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Professor shot in Nigerian Delta Professor shot in Nigerian Delta
(10 minutes later)
Unknown gunmen on motorcycles shot and wounded a US-based professor and a security guard in Nigeria's oil city, Port Harcourt officials say. Unknown gunmen on motorcycles have shot and wounded a US-based British professor and a security guard in Nigeria's oil city, Port Harcourt.
The academic had arrived in Port Harcourt to attend an awards ceremony at a local newspaper office. Professor Michael Watts was in Port Harcourt to attend an awards ceremony at a local newspaper office.
In another oil city, Yenagoa, the mother of a local state legislator was kidnapped on Tuesday night and a Nigerian oil worker shot dead. In another oil city, Yenagoa, the mother of a local state legislator was kidnapped on Tuesday night.
The oil worker was shot dead in his home, also in Rivers State, say police. A Nigerian oil worker was also shot dead in his home in Rivers State, say police.
The US embassy in Abuja says it is aware of the shooting in Port Harcourt. Professor Watts from Bristol, who said he had taught in the US for years, told AP news agency he thought they had been followed from a bank.
Details of the shooting are still quite patchy, spokesperson Irejua Barasua told the BBC. "I'm feeling a little rattled, like everyone in the office... Thank God no-one was seriously injured ... it could have been much worse."
AP news agency said the professor was British, but had taught in the US for years.
Ibiba Donpedro, the journalist for whom the ceremony had been organized, said the gunmen arrived at the newspaper office on at least two motorcycles.Ibiba Donpedro, the journalist for whom the ceremony had been organized, said the gunmen arrived at the newspaper office on at least two motorcycles.
"The next thing, we heard shots all over. Young men came in, shot the (professor) on the hand, ransacked the offices, shot up the windows, shot the security guy on the leg, and left," she said."The next thing, we heard shots all over. Young men came in, shot the (professor) on the hand, ransacked the offices, shot up the windows, shot the security guy on the leg, and left," she said.
"They were saying, 'Where's the white man? Where's the money from the bank?'" she says."They were saying, 'Where's the white man? Where's the money from the bank?'" she says.
She could not say whether the attack, in which the office was destroyed and two laptops were stolen, was a simple armed robbery or linked to the paper's recent investigation of alleged links between local politicians and criminal gangs.She could not say whether the attack, in which the office was destroyed and two laptops were stolen, was a simple armed robbery or linked to the paper's recent investigation of alleged links between local politicians and criminal gangs.
Kidnap
The gunmen who kidnapped the mother of the Bayelsa State local assembly speaker in Yenagoa arrived in two boats on Tuesday night, a local vigilante group leader said.The gunmen who kidnapped the mother of the Bayelsa State local assembly speaker in Yenagoa arrived in two boats on Tuesday night, a local vigilante group leader said.
The kidnapping was the third attack on officials - or those close to them - this week in the volatile oil-rich Niger Delta.The kidnapping was the third attack on officials - or those close to them - this week in the volatile oil-rich Niger Delta.
A politician from neighbouring Delta state was found dead on Monday.A politician from neighbouring Delta state was found dead on Monday.
On the same day, gunmen in Port Harcourt stormed the house of a newly appointed energy official and killed two family members.On the same day, gunmen in Port Harcourt stormed the house of a newly appointed energy official and killed two family members.
More than 150 foreigners - mostly oil workers - and many Nigerians have been kidnapped in the region so far this year.More than 150 foreigners - mostly oil workers - and many Nigerians have been kidnapped in the region so far this year.
The hostages are usually released unharmed after ransom payments that are always denied by the Nigerian authorities and the oil companies concerned.The hostages are usually released unharmed after ransom payments that are always denied by the Nigerian authorities and the oil companies concerned.
Despite being Africa's top oil producer and the sixth largest exporter crude to the US, the Niger Delta remains heavily impoverished.Despite being Africa's top oil producer and the sixth largest exporter crude to the US, the Niger Delta remains heavily impoverished.
Attacks on oil installations have cut Nigeria's oil daily production by about 25%, helping to drive up world oil prices.Attacks on oil installations have cut Nigeria's oil daily production by about 25%, helping to drive up world oil prices.