afrol News, 8 September - Nigerian militants have killed a sailor and abducted another when they seized a vessel belonging to Italian oil company yesterday, a military spokesman has said.

A spokesman for the anti-militancy group in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta, the Joint Military Taskforce (JTF) in Rivers State, Lieutenant-Colonel Sagir Musa, said gunmen suspected to be militants, attacked a vessel along Somberero River in Bayelsa State in south-eastern Nigeria.

He said that vessel, Fulma Lamnamco, was hired by Italian oil company, Agip for its operations at Brass LNG project and that the vessel sailed unescorted when it was attacked.

Mr Musa said no group claimed responsibility for the attack, the latest to rock the volatile oil-rich Niger Delta in recent months.

Most abductions in Nigeria are related to oil business. During past three years, some 200 foreigners have been kidnapped in oil-rich delta region. Attacks have mainly been claimed by armed groups who say they are fighting for a greater share of the oil wealth for region's inhabitants.

"Those responsible for shameful act are yet to be identified, the motive is pecuniary." Mr Musa said.

He said in another attack, a father of a local politician was kidnapped in oil hub of Port Harcourt, apparently for ransom.

The latest boat attack came barely three weeks after gunmen hijacked a supply vessel belonging to oil services company West Africa Offshore with eight Nigerian crew members.

Attack on foreign oil workers and vessels, has turned into a lucrative pastime for angry youth in Niger Delta, who usually demand millions of dollars in ransom before releasing their hostages.

Violence in the southern region has reduced Nigeria's oil production by a quarter since January 2006.

Nigeria was Africa's largest oil producer until it was overtaken in April by Angola, according to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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