Another Kidnapping in Port Harcourt
Following the Julius Berger kidnapping near Choba last week, Reuters are now also reporting that a number of expatriates were kidnapped from an oilfield service vessel en route to the Total Akpo field yesterday. The boat has now returned to Port Harcourt, but it's believed that up to 5 crew members have been taken from the vessel and held hostage. They're also reporting that a Filipino man was kidnapped in Port Harcourt yesterday afternoon. Whatever the reasons for these may be, it doesn't alter the fact that expatriates are once again becoming the focus of attention of the criminals and bandits.
There have been a number of warnings from the various militant factions that attacks in the Niger Delta are going to be stepped up and there have also been reports that the military JTF has been attacking militants camps between Nembe and Soku. This has led to some fairly violent responses from the militants in the past so it would be prudent to increase our vigilance and keep our heads down in the next few weeks (if it's possible to do those two together!).