Government still in the dark over kidnapped man's ransom demand

The government has not yet confirmed whether a ransom was requested for kidnapped oil worker George Scerri, who was snatched in Nigeria 10 days ago.

Contacted yesterday, a spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry said Lonestar Drilling - the company which employs Mr Scerri - has still not confirmed or denied the €5.5 million (Lm2.36 million) ransom for two of its oil workers.

The ransom claim was made by the 62-year-old's Nigerian wife, Phina Scerri, who also raised concern about her husband's health, Nigerian newspaper Vanguard reported.

Mr Scerri and Pakistani Moham-med Asif were snatched on May 23 in Omoku, outside the main oil city Port Harcourt, as they were driving to an oil rig. Nigerian media said the two were detained by unknown gunmen while they were travelling from their camp site to the oil rig. The kidnappers, who let the men's driver go, led the two foreigners to a waiting bus and then onto a speedboat.

Last Tuesday contact was made between Mr Scerri and the oil company. The local authorities have also been in touch with Mrs Scerri, the ministry spokesman said.

It is understood that Mr Scerri left Malta some 22 years ago and has been in Nigeria for around eight years. Three weeks before being abducted he spoke to one of his children living in Malta. The 26-year-old has also been in touch with his father's Nigerian wife.

Meanwhile, a delegation led by Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Cecilia Attard Pirotta is expected to leave for Nigeria today or tomorrow. The delegation is heading to the Nigerian capital Abuja, where it will be meeting with local authorities, the Italian Embassy and the British High Commission in the African country.

Asked whether the delegation would be meeting with Mrs Scerri, Dr Attard Pirotta said she hoped so. "Most definitely if she is in Abuja, she will be one of the people we will try to get in touch with," she said when contacted.