German oil worker abducted in Niger Delta

4 August 2006

ABUJA – A German oil worker was abducted by thugs dressed in military combat uniforms Thursday near the Rainbow Town military barracks at the Trans-Amadi Industrial estate in Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta, police said.

Ireju Barasua, police spokesperson on the Rivers state capital, identified the kidnapped worker as having the last name of Juido, who worked for B&B oil service company.

She said Juido and his driver were abducted by men in military combat uniforms who were probably fake military officials.

“They were abducted in the German’s sports utility van and taken to another military camp, where (the kidnappers) abandoned the Jeep and took the captives away to a yet-to-be-identified destination,” she said.

The Militant Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, which been at the forefront of similar abductions since the year began, told Deutsche Press-Agentur dpa that it had had no hand in the kidnapping.

“Not us. He was taken by a group that previously had been involved in armed robbery and piracy,” its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said.

The German foreign office said it was investigating the reports.

The abduction of oil workers in the Niger Delta heightened this year, with restive youths taking out their frustrations on foreign firms they believe are helping Nigeria to steal oil that belongs to the Niger Delta.

DPA

Subject: German news