Reuters: American among oil workers kidnapped in Nigeria: “"A support vessel was invaded by armed men and four persons were abducted," a Shell spokesman said. He declined to say whether output from the field had been curtailed.”: Thursday 12 January 2006

Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:46 AM ET

LAGOS (Reuters) - Unidentified armed men have kidnapped four foreign oil workers including an American and a Briton from an offshore oilfield in Nigeria operated by Royal Dutch Shell, authorities said on Thursday.

The hostages also include a Honduran and Bulgarian and were working on a ship servicing the 120,000 barrels per day E.A. oilfield, located a few miles off the coast of the southern Niger Delta, when the attack occurred on Wednesday.

"A support vessel was invaded by armed men and four persons were abducted," a Shell spokesman said. He declined to say whether output from the field had been curtailed.

An industry source said the process of shutting down the field had begun.

Shell has been in a long-standing dispute with some militant groups based in villages close to the E.A. field, and has experienced attacks there in the past.

Click here to return to ShellNews.net HOME PAGE