http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/12/07/Nigeria.oil.ap/index.html?eref=rss_world
1 killed, 3 Italians kidnapped at Nigerian oil terminal POSTED: 9:24 a.m. EST, December 7, 2006 LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) -- Gunmen attacked an oil export terminal in southern Nigeria belonging to a subsidiary of Italy's Eni SpA early Thursday, killing one person and taking three Italians hostage, officials said. Bayelsa state Police Commissioner Hafiz Ringim confirmed the attack just before dawn on an Agip terminal in the town of Brass that exports some 200,000 barrels of oil daily. Italy's Foreign Ministry said that three Italians were kidnapped. Agip officials said oil exports were not affected. "The attackers were wearing camouflage and came in about seven boats," Ringim said. "They burnt some vehicles and killed one person." The identity of the dead man was not immediately clear although it appeared he had been a bystander rather than one of the attackers or an Agip employee, Ringim said. Several residents of Brass said the gunmen shot and killed a youth who was among a group of locals trying to stop the attack. Witness: Gunmen shot youth, burned boats at anchor "They shot him and burned all the boats left on anchor by the (Brass) river as they escaped," said Soyuyo Timipre, a resident who spoke by phone from Brass on Nigeria's Atlantic coast. Such attacks -- common in Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta -- usually aim to take foreign hostages that can be traded for ransom or political influence. Since the beginning of 2006, militant groups have attacked pipelines and taken workers hostage in violence that has cut crude output by about 25 percent in Africa's largest oil producer. The West African country would normally expect to produce about 2.5 million barrels daily. The unrest in Nigeria has contributed to generally high oil prices, but it was unclear whether Thursday's attack was having an immediate impact. Slight gains in oil prices in Asian trading Thursday were linked by analysts to U.S. government data showing domestic inventories of crude oil, gasoline and heating oil fell last week and to uncertainty ahead of an OPEC ministerial meeting next week. Terminal attacks can reduce exports Attacks on terminals like the Brass station have the potential to significantly affect exports. Many of the Niger delta attacks have been on smaller pumping stations, which gather crude from wells to send to export terminals. An attack on Royal Dutch Shell PLC's Forcados export terminal early in the year shut down exports of more than 450,000 barrels day. But another attack on a base for contractors working at Exxon Mobil Corp.'s 700,000 barrels capacity Eket export terminal in October did not affect exports. Civilian protesters have also taken over oil facilities to protest a lack of jobs and development. Militants: Nigerians should profit more from their oil Many of the militants say their attacks and kidnappings are a protest on behalf of a region that has seen little improvement from the oil revenue it produces, but analysts say a recent spate of kidnappings is motivated more by commercial gain. Around 70 foreigners have been abducted so far this year. Most oil workers kidnapped over the past year have been safely released, but one British hostage was killed last month during a rescue attempt and scores of Nigerians have been killed in militant operations. The foreign captives are usually freed after a ransom is paid by the companies and the government, according to security analysts. Yet there have been other exceptions. In 2004, two foreign and five Nigerian subcontractors for Chevron died when their boat was ambushed in the creeks. Analysts have said that many of the militant groups are linked to local politicians and suggested that recent attacks may be tied to the ruling party's primaries later this month. Campaigning for presidential elections next year has increased tensions across Nigeria. Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. +++ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. 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