Nigeria’s government has ruled out using its military might to secure the release of the nine foreign oil workers kidnapped on Saturday in an attack by militant youths on Shell’s Forcados terminal in the Niger Delta region.
The hostages are three Americans, two Britons, two Egyptians, a Filipino and a Thai.
The abduction came barely a month after four expatriates were held in captivity for 19 days by militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), which has also taken responsibility for Saturday’s kidnapping.
In a swift reaction, President Olusegun Obasanjo has met top security chiefs and governors of Bayelsa and Rivers states as well as the MD of Shell Production and Development Company (SPDC).
A committee has also been put together by the federal government with a view to finding ways to ensure the release of the hostages.
Information Minister Frank Nweke condemned the act, describing it as criminal, and promised that the government will not tolerate such criminality.
He said the president assured all stakeholders that everything possible is being done to ensure the quick release of the hostages.
The abduction of the nine oil workers came on the heels of the expiration of Mend’s ultimatum to multinational oil companies to quit the volatile region.
The oil workers, employed by United States oil-services contractor Willbros Group, engaged by Shell, were reportedly kidnapped after the militants invaded the terminal and overpowered about 40 soldiers on guard at the facility.
About five of the soldiers who sustained severe injuries were in critical but stable condition at a government hospital.
Forcados terminal is one of the most important and strategic installations in the region , and with the facility badly damaged, oil production has already suffered major cut.
Meanwhile, Shell Exploration Production Company (Snepco), a sister company of Shell, has shut down its EA field, which has a production capacity of 115Â 000 barrels of oil per day — apparently in sympathy.
With the price of oil at $58 per barrel, Nigeria will be losing about $6-million a day due to the closure of the facility.
Snepco said in a statement the closure is a precautionary measure in the light of the recent events in the Niger Delta region.
“We continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of staff, contractors and the people in the community where we operate,” the statement said.
It promised, however, to “continue to cooperate with the Nigerian authorities and the hostages’ employer and offer every assistance to secure the safe release of the hostages”.