AP: Gunmen Kidnap Scores From Italian Vessel (Nigeria)

[Eugene]

Gunmen Kidnap Scores From Italian Vessel

By DAN UDOH

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria Nov 22, 2006 (AP)— Gunmen have seized scores of hostages
from an Italian oil supply vessel off the coast of southern Nigeria, police and
security contractors said Wednesday.

About 25 foreign workers and 60 Nigerian employees were taken overnight on a vessel
belonging to Agip, a subsidiary of Italian oil giant Eni SpA, a private security
contractor said. The hostages nationalities were not immediately known.

The contractor asked for anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the
press.

Police spokeswoman Irejua Barasua confirmed that an attack occurred on an oil vessel,
but did not provide further details.

-snip-

Full article: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2672321

[Eugene]

1. AP: Gunmen Kidnap Seven From Italian Vessel

Gunmen Kidnap Seven From Italian Vessel


Wednesday November 22, 2006 10:46 AM

By DAN UDOH

Associated Press Writer

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (AP) - Gunmen have seized seven hostages from an Italian oil
supply vessel off the coast of southern Nigeria, police and company officials said
Wednesday.

Twenty-five foreign workers and nearly 60 Nigerian employees were on board a vessel
belonging to a subsidiary of Italian oil giant Eni SpA that was attacked overnight,
Eni said in a statement.

The company said 10 armed men attacked the ship and took seven people away on a
speedboat. One of the hostages was an Italian worker at Saipem, an Eni subdivision.
The company did not give the nationalities of the other hostages.

-snip-

Another oil security worker said a ransom demand had already been received by the
company.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6232505,00.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. British hostage killed in Nigeria during rescue attempt

A British oil worker has been killed and an Italian seriously wounded during an attempt to free those seized by Nigerian militants, the navy says.

A Nigerian navy spokesman told the BBC that the remaining five foreign hostages had been rescued unharmed, while two militants were killed.

The hostages, from Finland, Italy, the Philippines, Poland, Romania and the UK, worked for Italian firm Eni.

Hostages are usually freed unharmed, often after ransoms are paid.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6172546.stm