Jimitota Onoyume
15 May 2008
Lagos — GUNMEN, Tuesday, seized a vessel and its 11 passengers, nine of whom are Nigerians. The other two are a Portuguese and a Ukranian. The gunmen are demanding a ransom of N30 million for the release of the hostages.
The boat owned by Tide Waters was said to be carrying supplies for the American oil company- Chevron. The attack on Lourdes Tide took place between Onne and Escravos.
Spokesman for the Joint Task Force in the state, Lieutenant Col Sagir Musa, confirmed the attack, saying: "A vessel working for Chevron was sailing from Onne to Escravos and was hijacked by unknown gunmen in the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday).
The exact location was not known. It is believed that it happened in Krakrama general area. Specifically in Fouch Island. Of 11 people in the vessel, one is a Portuguese and the other Ukrainian.
The gunmen demanded for thirty million ransom."
Spokesman for Chevron, Mr. Tope Idowu, said: "It is not our vessel. It belongs to a firm, Tide Waters, working for us. They are into marine services. The name of the vessel is MV Lourdes Tide. It was leaving to Escravos from Onne. I don't know at the moment if it had supplies."
Meanwhile, the Army spokesman, Lieutenant Col Musa, said no casualty was recorded during the attack, adding that no group had claimed responsibility for the development. He said effort was in top gear to uncover those behind the hijack.
However, Chevron has promised to assist in the release of the hostages.
An official of the Portuguese embassy in Nigeria also confirmed that one of its nationals had been kidnapped. "The embassy is aware of his kidnap and we are doing something to secure his release," she said, without giving further details.
On May 6, three Chinese construction workers were kidnapped in Calabar, Cross River State, but were released three days later.
In 2007 alone, more than 200 foreign workers were taken hostage, often released after a ransom was paid.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said it was not responsible for the attack. "We are aware of those behind the attack and do not support their motive. However, we will not see ourselves working on the side of the government in aiding the release of the hostages," it said in a statement yesterday.
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