ABUJA Two Nigerian sailors were killed on Saturday by gunmen who attacked two ships off the coast of the Niger Delta, authorities said.
Navy spokesman Kabir Aliyu said four foreigners were kidnapped in the attack, but did not give their nationalities. The attack happened about 35 nautical miles off the coast of the Niger Delta, a region once beset by militant and criminal attacks that has seen relative calm following a government-sponsored amnesty deal in 2008. Aliyu said a helicopter and a ship had been deployed into the area to help search and rescue efforts.
Navy officials say the affected ships belong to the Sea Trucks Group, an oil and gas contractor with offices in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. Attacks of this nature and kidnappings were a common occurrence in the Niger Delta before the militants embraced the amnesty deal.
The oil-rich region, which accounts for more than 70 per cent of Nigeria's revenue, is characterised by poor infrastructure, poverty and pollution.
Navy spokesman Kabir Aliyu said four foreigners were kidnapped in the attack, but did not give their nationalities. The attack happened about 35 nautical miles off the coast of the Niger Delta, a region once beset by militant and criminal attacks that has seen relative calm following a government-sponsored amnesty deal in 2008. Aliyu said a helicopter and a ship had been deployed into the area to help search and rescue efforts.
Navy officials say the affected ships belong to the Sea Trucks Group, an oil and gas contractor with offices in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. Attacks of this nature and kidnappings were a common occurrence in the Niger Delta before the militants embraced the amnesty deal.
The oil-rich region, which accounts for more than 70 per cent of Nigeria's revenue, is characterised by poor infrastructure, poverty and pollution.
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