Nigerian militants attack Italy-owned oil platform

LAGOS, Nigeria – Gunmen in speedboats attacked an oil vessel off the coast of Nigeria at dawn Friday and kidnapped six workers, Italian energy giant Eni SpA said.

The Polish, Filipino and Nigerian workers were taken off the FPSO Mystras, Eni said on its Web site. One Nigerian was reported to have been wounded in the leg, the statement said. A spokeswoman refused further comment.

The Mystras, used for production, storage and offloading crude oil, is capable of producing 80,000 barrels of oil per day.

The Niger Delta has been the scene of violence, with militants kidnapping about 100 foreign workers this year to press their demands for local control of oil revenues.

Locals have for years demanded a greater share of the wealth in Africa’s largest crude producer, and the region remains desperately poor despite its great natural bounty.

AFP