For the second time in a week, six foreign workers have been kidnapped from an oil service ship by gunmen who invaded the ship off the coast of Bayelsa in Nigeria's Niger Delta oil region, the police said Wednesday.
Bayelsa State Police Spokesman Fidelis Odunna told journalists that three Ukrainians, 2 Indians and 1 Russian were taken off the ship on Sunday.
He said the kidnappers had made a ransom demand of 200 million naira (US$1.25 million), adding that the police and other security agencies were working together to secure the release of the foreigners.
The abduction occurred a day after seven foreign construction workers were kidnapped from their construction site in Jama'are, northern Bauchi State.
The Islamic group Ansaru, believed to have splintered from Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the abduction, saying it was due to 'transgression and atrocities' committed against Muslims in Mali and other places.
No ransom demand has been made in respect of the seven foreigners who were abducted in from the site of the Lebanese-owned construction company Setraco.
Pana 20/02/2013