Monday, March 22, 2010

Three Nigerian Oil Workers Killed By Armed Robbers

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (Reuters) - Three Nigerian oil workers were found dead in the Niger Delta Saturday after being attacked by armed robbers, a spokesman for the state-run oil firm NNPC said Monday.

Kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery and car jackings are common in the Niger Delta, home to widespread poverty despite its vast oil and gas reserves. But most victims are released unharmed after payment of a ransom.

The three workers, employed by NNPC's National Petroleum Development Company, were attacked while travelling to Abraka in Nigeria's southern Delta state, the police said.

Foreign oil firms are forced to spend millions of dollars a year on security for their staff because of high crime rates in the Niger Delta. Authorities were investigating the incident but no suspects have been arrested.

(Reporting by Austin Ekeinde; Writing by Randy Fabi)

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