| Nigerian officials say gunmen have kidnapped | | | | (Consolidated Oil) of violating an agreement |
| a Dutch oil worker and an oil rig security | | | | with the local community. |
| guard in separate incidents in southern | | | | |
| Nigeria. | | | | Oil firms in the impoverished but oil-rich |
| | | | Niger Delta region often enter into |
| Both abductions occurred in Nigeria's Bayelsa | | | | agreements with local communities, promising |
| state. | | | | investments and jobs. |
| | | | |
| Bayelsa's police commissioner Thursday said | | | | A loose coalition of Nigerian militants, the |
| the Dutch worker was kidnapped from a Royal | | | | Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger |
| Dutch Shell gas plant in the Gbaran area. The | | | | Delta, has demanded that local communities |
| abduction occurred after locals organized a | | | | receive a greater share of the region's oil |
| protest calling for better jobs and | | | | wealth. |
| investment in the community. | | | | |
| | | | The militants have carried out a series of |
| The Nigerian navy says the security guard - a | | | | attacks and kidnappings at Niger Delta oil |
| retired Nigerian navy officer - was kidnapped | | | | facilities over the past year. Most of the |
| Wednesday during a raid on an offshore oil | | | | hostages have been released unharmed. |
| rig. | | | | |
| | | | Some information for this report was provided |
| A spokesman says the raiders accused the | | | | by AP and Reuters. |
| Nigerian firm that operates the rig | | | | |