Official: 2 kidnapped Nigerian oil workers found dead in oil-rich Niger Delta region
By APTuesday, March 23, 2010
2 kidnapped oil workers found dead in Nigeria
ABUJA, Nigeria — A trade unionist says two Nigerian oil workers have been found dead in the oil-rich Niger Delta region after being kidnapped 10 days ago.
A Nigerian Oil Workers Union official says the bodies were found Tuesday in the bush off the road to Sapele town, about 420 kilometers (261 miles) southwest of the capital, Abuja.
Peter Esele says the men worked for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. and were kidnapped March 13. He does not know if ransom was demanded.
Kidnappings of oil workers are common in the Niger Delta. Militants also attack pipelines and have fought government troops since January 2006. The militants want the federal government to spend more oil-industry funds on their region, which remains poor despite five decades of oil production.
