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| Gunmen seize Nigerian MP's mother | Gunmen seize Nigerian MP's mother |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Unknown gunmen have kidnapped the mother of a local MP in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta, authorities say. | Unknown gunmen have kidnapped the mother of a local MP in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta, authorities say. |
| The woman was abducted on Monday night from her home in Brass, a coastal village in Bayelsa, one of Nigeria's main oil-producing states. | The woman was abducted on Monday night from her home in Brass, a coastal village in Bayelsa, one of Nigeria's main oil-producing states. |
| Meanwhile, the 11-year-old son of another member Bayelsa State House of Assembly has been freed. | Meanwhile, the 11-year-old son of another member Bayelsa State House of Assembly has been freed. |
| In the main Delta city, Port Harcourt, police have arrested a local politician following deadly gang clashes. | In the main Delta city, Port Harcourt, police have arrested a local politician following deadly gang clashes. |
| Posters of Amakiri Otelemagba were found in a car allegedly used by gunmen in last week's clashes, in which at least 15 people were killed - mostly bystanders. | |
| The city is now calm but BBC Nigeria correspondent Alex Last says given the scale and spread of the fighting, there is a suspicion that powerful political figures may also have been involved in the violence. | The city is now calm but BBC Nigeria correspondent Alex Last says given the scale and spread of the fighting, there is a suspicion that powerful political figures may also have been involved in the violence. |
| He says that in the past, the gangs have been used to rig elections. | He says that in the past, the gangs have been used to rig elections. |
| Toddlers | Toddlers |
| It is not clear whether any ransom was paid for the release of the 11-year-old boy. Such payments are always officially denied. | It is not clear whether any ransom was paid for the release of the 11-year-old boy. Such payments are always officially denied. |
| The elderly mother of the speaker of the Bayelsa State legislature was freed on 3 August after 10 days in captivity. | The elderly mother of the speaker of the Bayelsa State legislature was freed on 3 August after 10 days in captivity. |
| These latest kidnappings are a new trend in the region where militants used to kidnap mostly foreign oil workers for ransom. | These latest kidnappings are a new trend in the region where militants used to kidnap mostly foreign oil workers for ransom. |
| In Port Harcourt in neighbouring Rivers State, two toddlers were kidnapped last month. | In Port Harcourt in neighbouring Rivers State, two toddlers were kidnapped last month. |
| A three-year-old daughter of a British worker was kidnapped and later released. | A three-year-old daughter of a British worker was kidnapped and later released. |
| Another two-year-old son of a local chief was also snatched on his way to school in Nigeria's violent oil capital and later released to his father. | Another two-year-old son of a local chief was also snatched on his way to school in Nigeria's violent oil capital and later released to his father. |
| Foreign oil workers are still being targeted, with at least five still in captivity. | Foreign oil workers are still being targeted, with at least five still in captivity. |
| Over 200 expatriate workers have been kidnapped since early 2006 when militant groups stepped up their violent campaign for Niger Delta residents to have a larger share of Nigeria's oil money. | Over 200 expatriate workers have been kidnapped since early 2006 when militant groups stepped up their violent campaign for Niger Delta residents to have a larger share of Nigeria's oil money. |
| Hostages are normally released unharmed after ransom payments that are often denied by governments and the oil companies involved. | Hostages are normally released unharmed after ransom payments that are often denied by governments and the oil companies involved. |
| The relationship between the oil militants and the criminal gangs is unclear. | The relationship between the oil militants and the criminal gangs is unclear. |