Canadian oil worker kidnapped in Nigeria

Two Americans, two French citizens, and one unidentified Canadian were taken hostage off the coast of Nigeria’s southern delta Monday.

The region has a long history of unrest as a result of anger over a foreign-run oil industry that has benefited few Nigerians and left the area impoverished and polluted. A fresh campaign of pipeline bombings and kidnappings was launched in 2006 but was somewhat calmed by government offers of job training for militants. On Monday armed men in speedboats stormed the High Island VII oil rig and took five men hostage, escaping before Nigerian navy vessels, which usually guard oil rigs, could apprehend them. Two other workers were flown to hospital for gunshot wounds. Afren, the company that operates the rig, has not publically released the names of the captives.