By Austin Ekeinde
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (Reuters) - Gunmen have kidnappedeight oil workers in three separate incidents in Nigeria'soil-producing Niger Delta in the past 24 hours, securitysources said on Friday.
The first attack happened late on Thursday when 11 Russiansand a Ukrainian were seized onboard a vessel off the island ofBonny. Some were released on Friday but five are still beingheld, according to a top security chief in the delta.
"We have not heard any more from the kidnappers sincethen," a private security contractor working in the oilindustry said.
He said the vessel was working for Italian oilfieldservices company Saipem SpA.
The second attack happened early on Friday in the main oilindustry hub of Port Harcourt, when more than a dozen men inspeedboats kidnapped two oil engineers, one from thePhilippines and one Nigerian, the security contractor said.
The men were on a vessel working for Damas Oil and MarineServices, an offshore oil services firm, when they were taken.No ransom had yet been demanded, the security contractor said.
A state security source, who asked not to be identified,confirmed a Filipino and a Nigerian had been kidnapped.
In the third incident, another Filipino was seized on landin Port Harcourt while going to buy roasted corn. No contacthad been made with the kidnappers, security sources said.
It was not immediately clear whether the three kidnappingswere carried out by the same group.
Port Harcourt is the main city in the Niger Delta, a vastnetwork of shallow creeks flowing into the Gulf of Guinea andthe hub of Nigeria's 2 million barrels per day oil industry.
Militant groups seeking a greater share of the region'snatural wealth for local communities have cut Nigeria's outputby a fifth since launching a campaign of sabotage against oilinstallations in early 2006.
Criminal gangs have taken advantage of the breakdown of lawand order, funding themselves through a lucrative trade instolen crude oil and frequently kidnapping businessmen, localpoliticians and expatriates for ransom.
More than 200 foreigners have been seized in the NigerDelta since early 2006. Almost all have been released unharmed.
Armed men kidnapped two Germans working for a constructionfirm near Port Harcourt two weeks ago.
Security sources said gunmen had also attacked an oilservices vessel late on Thursday as it travelled from PortHarcourt towards the Akpo oilfield operated by France's Total.There was no immediate word on casualties.
(For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say onthe top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/ )
(Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Randy Fabi)
