Oil workers kidnapped

LAGOS – Unidentified armed men have kidnapped four foreign oil workers including an American and a Briton from an offshore oilfield in Nigeria operated by Royal Dutch Shell, authorities said yesterday.

The hostages also include a Honduran and Bulgarian and were working on a ship servicing the 120 000 barrels per day EA oilfield, located a few miles off the coast of the southern Niger Delta, when the attack occurred on Wednesday. “A support vessel was invaded by armed men and four persons were abducted,” a Shell spokesman said.He declined to say whether output from the field had been curtailed.An industry source said the process of shutting down the field had begun.Shell has been in a long-standing dispute with some militant groups based in villages close to the EA field, and has experienced attacks there in the past.- Nampa-Reuters”A support vessel was invaded by armed men and four persons were abducted,” a Shell spokesman said.He declined to say whether output from the field had been curtailed.An industry source said the process of shutting down the field had begun.Shell has been in a long-standing dispute with some militant groups based in villages close to the EA field, and has experienced attacks there in the past.- Nampa-Reuters