Advertisement

Oil

MEND rebels in Niger Delta to help free kidnapped Germans

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
MEND rebels in Niger Delta to help free kidnapped Germans
An oil field in Nigeria. Photo: DPA

The most prominent armed group in the restive Niger Delta, MEND, promised Monday to assist in the release of two German construction workers seized earlier this month by unknown gunmen.

Advertisement

"The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta will intervene towards the release of the two German construction staff of Julius Berger who were ambushed and kidnapped for ransom in Rivers state," the group said in an e-mail to AFP.

MEND said it was making contacts with the abductors who seized the Germans on a construction site in the volatile oil-rich region on July 11.

"MEND has located and identified the culprits and will begin negotiating with the kidnappers in the hope for a safe and unconditional release of the captives," it said.

The group said it took the decision "because the men are involved in construction of infrastructure in the Niger Delta region."

MEND, which claims to be fighting for greater control of the region's oil wealth by local people, came into prominence in January 2006.

It has carried out a series of violent attacks on the oil industry and kidnapped hundreds of local and expatriate workers in the restive region.

Several foreign firms, including French tyre company Michelin and oil servicing firm Wilbros, have left the Niger Delta because of security problems.

The unrest has reduced Nigeria's oil output by a quarter, causing it to lose its position as Africa's biggest oil producer to Angola, according to April figures from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also