Nigerian Rebels Claim To Locate Kidnapped French And Thai Workers

[webfact]

Nigerian rebels claim to locate kidnapped French workers

by Susan Njanji

LAGOS (AFP) -- Nigeria's most prominent militant group has claimed to have located three French oil workers kidnapped from their ship after an attack that led to a two-hour gun battle with authorities.

The Nigerian military searched Thursday for the four victims -- a Thai national was also kidnapped -- after an attack that saw abductors approach an oil platform in speedboats, then switch to another vessel to cover their tracks.

France said it did not know whereabouts of its nationals.

"The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) can confirm that it has located the three abducted French nationals and another individual abducted in a separate incident on the same night," the militant group said in a statement late Wednesday.

But a French foreign affairs ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said: "We are not able to confirm the whereabouts of our compatriots."

MEND, which has staged similar attacks in the past and has also been seen as an umbrella group for local armed gangs in the oil-producing Niger Delta, said it was negotiating with the abductors to have the victims transferred to them.

"When this is done, we will be in a better position to give further information about their state of health and the duration of their stay with us."

Wednesday's kidnapping, the second hostage drama for French energy workers in West Africa in less than a week, occurred despite an amnesty deal in the Niger Delta that has seen thousands of ex-fighters give up their weapons.

French and Nigerian officials said they suspected the kidnapping was purely criminal -- unlike last week's abduction of French nationals in the neighbouring nation of Niger, claimed by Al-Qaeda's north Africa branch.

"Everything points to it being a classic act of piracy," French Defence Minister Herve Morin said.

No ransom demands have been made yet, said Nadal.

The early morning raid began with attackers trying to approach an oil platform off Bonny Island, Nigeria's main export terminal.

The abductors had first arrived in the area on speedboats, then boarded an oil services ship to disguise themselves, Navy spokesman David Nabaida said.

It was unclear how they gained access to the ship.

As they approached the platform, a naval deployment guarding oil installations in the area sought to push them back and a heavy gunbattle ensued.

On pulling away from the platform, the militants captured the Thai victim from a nearby ship, he said.

He was unclear of the details of the kidnapping of the French victims.

"They (the attackers) were very well armed," Nabaida said.

"There was a serious exchange of gunfire between them and our men for close to two-and-a-half-hours."

While MEND said the French crew and another victim were taken in separate incidents, it did not provide details or the nationality of the fourth person.

The French sailors' employer, maritime services firm Bourbon, said they were abducted when pirates equipped with several speedboats attacked their 2,000-tonne tug and supply ship.

Its boat had been working on a field owned by Addax Petroleum, a Swiss-based subsidiary of the Chinese energy giant Sinopec.

After the seaways off Somalia, the Gulf of Guinea south of Nigeria is one of the world's most notorious pirate hunting grounds, and ships working in the region's huge oil industry have often been targeted by kidnap gangs.

Some gangs have been purely criminal, while others, including MEND, claimed to be fighting for a fairer distribution of oil revenue.

Nigeria is among the world's largest oil producers, but its government has been unable to provide basic services, including adequate electricity, and poverty remains widespread.

The amnesty deal offered last year has led to a sharp decline in attacks, but some fear a return of unrest if the programme is not followed through.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-09-23

[MAJIC]

Why am I getting the feeling there is a double kidnap scam in operation here?

[princejohnjay]

Nigeria is a very wealthy and richest country in Africa but it's government is more than corrupt and needs to be whipped off for that country to take a good stand in the world....

[Phatcharanan]

Nigeria is a very wealthy and richest country in Africa

Errrr no. That would be South Africa (in terms of 'pure wealth')

[paulbrun]

A little disturbing, as I am working not so far away myself. The supply boats are generally not armed, and would not be able to defend themselves. Having the support of the local navy ought to mean this sort of attack cannot happen..? There could be more to this story than is being reported..? Let's hope they manage to rescue the kinapped victims, and catch the perpetrators.

[asiawatcher]

Nigeria and Somalia have a lot in common it would seem.

[rubl]

Nigeria and Somalia have a lot in common it would seem.

Nah, the Somalians are old fashioned doing things at gun-point. The Nigerians are mostly much more sophisticated. At least once a week I get an offer I can (hardly) refuse

[beammeup]

http://www.bourbon-online.com/en/situation-in-nigeria Not sure if this is the same incident? I dont see anythink about Thais. This is common in the area

[webfact]

Thailand requests Kenya for help in rescuing kidnapped Thai worker

NEW YORK: -- Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya has urged his Kenyan counterpart to help rescue a Thai worker who was kidnapped earlier this week while working on an oil platform in Nigeria’s Niger Delta in West Africa, a senior ministry official said.

Vimol Kidchob, a spokeswoman of the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry, said Mr Kasit had asked for help to secure the release of the unidentified Thai worker during discussions on bilateral relations between the two countries.

Mr Kasit is attending the annual UN General Assembly in New York.

Miss Vimol said Mr Kasit had briefed his counterpart on Thailand dispatching nearly 400 navy personnel earlier this month to join the international naval force combating piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia.

Kenya recommended that close coordination in suppressing piracy in the region should be made between the two countries and promised that it would put efforts to acquire information about the missing Thai worker, Miss Vimol said.

She said the Thai embassy in Lagos, Nigeria is also trying to seek additional information on the abduction.

Three French oil workers and a Thai were kidnapped Wednesday after a group of attackers approached the oil platform in speedboats, then transferred to another vessel to deter pursuit, according to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report from Lagos.

No ransom demands have yet been made, French foreign affairs ministry spokesman Romain Nadal as saying.

French and Nigerian officials said they suspected the kidnapping was purely criminal, the French news agency said.

Mr Kasit also met with his Sudanese counterpart on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, said Miss Vimol. The Thai diplomat briefed the Sudanese foreign minister on Thailand planning to dispatch soldiers to assist in an international peace-keeping force in November and December with each group comprising 400 soldiers.

The Sudanese foreign minister encouraged Thai business interests to invest in Sudan, she added. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-09-25