When considering Nigeria, don't forget you too could become a hostage. These three have been in captivity for a month now. They aren't pilots, but it happens to pilots too. Serious stuff.
Obasanjo pledges to help save hostages
Abuja - Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday assured that he would do everything possible to save the lives of the three hostages still being held by ethnic Ijaw militants in the Niger Delta.
"We have to show restraint, even if this portrays the government as weak. If we choose to use force, lives will definitely be lost," he said.
"I will do everything possible to save lives in all circumstances," Obasanjo told Malcolm Brinded, director of exploration and production at Shell International during the latter's visit to Abuja.
He said, from now on, all communities where development projects were sited would be the first beneficiaries of the services being provided by such facilities.
'We have to show restraint'
"We must ensure that an all-encompassing plan is put in place involving all tiers of government and relevant companies for a socio-economic transformation of all areas where mineral resources are mined," Obasanjo said.
He said the Nigerian government expected oil-rich states and local councils to provide secondary schools, medical centre and roads, while companies operating in these parts of the country also also contribute to the local economy.
Brinded had earlier told Obasanjo that Shell appreciated the Nigerian government's efforts to secure the release of the three hostages.
The three hostages, two Americans and a Briton, were abducted by militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta on February 18 along with six of their colleagues while laying pipes for Shell in the region.
All are employees of oil services company Willbros Group, based in Houston, Texas.
The six other hostages were released on March 1 by the militants who are demanding control of oil in the Niger Delta, a resource that accounts for more than 90 percent of Nigeria's total annual foreign exchange earnings.
The militants are also demanding the immediate release of two Ijaw leaders, Mujahidee Asari-Dokubo, currently standing trial for treason and Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the impeached governor of Bayelsa state in the Niger Delta, who is currently facing trial for embezzlement of public funds.
Alamieyeseigha jumped bail in London rather than face money laundering charges in that country, but was impeached, arrested and taken to court upon his return to Nigeria. - Sapa-dpa
Taken from
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?s...2611743229B252
WARRI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigerian militants said on Wednesday they had separated three foreign oil workers in their captivity for strategic reasons, but did not intend to kill them.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has been holding two Americans and one Briton for almost a month since they were abducted from an oil industry barge in the mangrove-lined creeks of the Niger Delta.
The kidnapping was one of a series of militant attacks in the world's eighth largest oil exporter, which has cut supplies by almost a quarter.
"The hostages have been separated for strategic reasons and all considerations to their comfort and well-being disregarded henceforth," the militants said in an email.
"However...they will not be executed without good reason."
The militants, who move around the maze of river channels in speed boats, have demanded more local control over the delta's oil wealth, the release of two jailed ethnic Ijaw leaders and compensation for oil pollution of delta villages.
The government has called them "rascals" and oil thieves.
The militants said their demands had not been addressed by the government and talks to secure the hostages' release had not begun. Diplomats say the militant group is fragmented and different factions have been giving different messages about the likelihood of release.
The militants originally seized nine employees of U.S. oil services company Willbros on February 18, but freed six on March 1.
It was the second series of kidnappings and attacks on the oil industry in two months, which analysts have linked to political instability in Nigeria before elections next year.
Taken from
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsAr...archived=False