Gunmen in Nigeria attacked a vessel near an offshore oil facility and kidnapped two expatriates and a Nigerian in the restive Niger Delta, a private security source said on Thursday. The vessel Oceanic Orion was attacked at the Adanga crude oil flow station, operated by Canada's Addax Petroleum, in Akwa Ibom state in the delta, the source said.

Kidnappings are frequent in the Niger Delta, home to Nigeria's oil sector. Hundreds of foreigners have been seized in the region since early 2006, most of whom have been released unharmed.

Gunmen last week kidnapped a Scottish man working for an oil services firm, while militants have held two Britons captive for more than two months in the delta.

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