One killed as militants kidnap oil vessel crew
Nigeria-Tribune Newspaper
19.01.2009
One person was killed when assailants kidnapped the crew of an oil-industry vessel in the Niger Delta, a security official said on Sunday.
According to sources, unidentified gunmen attacked boats near a crude-oil loading installation late Saturday. A private security source said the gunmen had tried to board an oil tanker but failed and then attacked a smaller service vessel and one person was killed.
The source spoke on condition of anonymity. Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, confirmed that attack, saying the entire Nigerian crew of one boat had been taken hostage.
MEND said one of its “affiliates” launched the attack to press the message that the military could not protect the oil industry. Meanwhile, militants claimed that soldiers botched a mission to rescue two British oil workers held hostage for months.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said in an electronic message on Sunday that the British hostages were not in a village raided overnight by the military.
The group said it separated the pair and moved them deeper into the creeks and mangrove swamps. The military authorities made no comment on any rescue operation.
The British hostages were among 27 oil workers kidnapped from a vessel on Septmber 9, 2008. The other hostages were later released.
