Maltese oil worker kidnapped in Nigeria

A Maltese oil worker and a Pakistani, both working for Nigerian oil services company Lonestar, were kidnapped in the Niger Delta in southern Nigeria yesterday, police and security sources told Reuters.

"Two foreign oil workers, one Pakistani and the other from Malta, were kidnapped at Omoku today. They are working for Lonestar. We do not know who kidnapped them," said Sagir Musa, military spokesman in Rivers state.

The Maltese government said last night it was informed of the case and it has started diplomatic efforts with the Nigerian Embassy in Tripoli.

The government has contacted the worker's relatives and told them of the efforts being made by the Foreign Affairs ministry.

Rita Inoma-Abbey, spokesman for Rivers state police command, said the incident took place near the town of Omoku at around 12:30 p.m. (1130 GMT).

Omoku lies on the east-west road linking Port Harcourt, the delta's main city in Rivers state, to Warri, the capital of Delta state located further west. A security source said they were travelling without a military escort.

Violence in the Niger Delta, home to Africa's biggest oil industry which produces around two million barrels per day, is estimated to have depressed Nigeria's output by a fifth over the past two years, helping to drive oil prices to record highs.

Militants pushing for more benefit from the region's natural wealth were behind much of the unrest but copy-cat criminal gangs have also abducted foreigners and Nigerians for money.

Thousands of foreign workers have been moved to the relative safety of the commercial capital Lagos and those who remain live under tight security.

Five foreigners working for Lonestar were kidnapped in the delta last July but were released unharmed 10 days later.

Kidnappings for ransom are common in the oil-producing Niger Delta, where militants have launched a campaign of violence to press for local control of the region's natural resources.

More than 200 foreigners have been seized in violence in the region since early 2006. Almost all have been released unharmed.

Efforts by The Times to contact Lonestar were unsuccessful.