VOA常速英语2007-Niger Delta Militants Seize Oil Workers in Attac

By Kari Barber
Dakar
26 October 2007

Italian oil giant Eni has confirmed that six workers were taken in an attack on an offshore¹ facility in Nigeria's Niger Delta² on Friday morning.  Some say a recent upsurge in attacks following a period of ceasefire could hamper³ efforts to create dialogue between the new government of President Umaru Yar'Adua and the militants⁵.  Kari Barber has more from our West Africa bureau in Dakar.

Eni has confirmed that unidentified gunmen in speedboats took the workers after boarding a company supply boat and then climbing aboard an offshore oil production facility.  The company says those taken were Nigerian, Polish and Filipino citizens and one Nigerian worker was injured.

Nigerian security officials contacted for this report were not able to confirm the details of the attack.

The kidnapping follows a hostage taking Saturday in which seven Shell company workers were taken and held for two days. Militant⁴ group Movement for the Emancipation⁶ of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack, but it is still unclear who was behind the attack Friday.

Militants claim they are fighting for more local control of the region's oil wealth.  They have launched a campaign of kidnappings and attacks.

The recent attacks follow a five-month ceasefire after the inauguration⁷ of new President Umaru Yar'Adua.  Mr. Yar'Adua promised in his inauguration speech to address grievances⁸ in the turbulent region.

Port Harcourt-based Non-violence in the Niger Delta organization head Kennedy West has been working to create dialogue between the militants and the government.  He says the attacks make it difficult for those militants who want to negotiate.

"They have started kidnapping even Nigerians," said Mr. West.  "They have started kidnapping kids.  They have started kidnapping grandmothers and old women and fathers.  They have started kidnapping even themselves.  I wonder how the government will look at this."

In the past year kidnappings have begun to extend beyond oil workers to other foreigners and family members of politicians.  Experts say the hostage taking has become a money-making affair.

West says he is optimistic about the new government, but worries they are still not listening to the militants demands.

"I believe that the government ought to make more of an effort," he added.  "The government ought to talk to them face to face or allow them to appoint people who could represent them in dialogue.

Eni produces 50,000 barrels of oil per day.  Nigeria is Africa's top oil producer, but militant attacks have cut production in recent months.

1 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

2 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

3 hamper   

vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子

参考例句：

• There are some apples in a picnic hamper.在野餐用的大篮子里有许多苹果。
• The emergence of such problems seriously hamper the development of enterprises.这些问题的出现严重阻碍了企业的发展。

4 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

5 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

6 emancipation   

n.（从束缚、支配下）解放

参考例句：

• We must arouse them to fight for their own emancipation. 我们必须唤起他们为其自身的解放而斗争。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They rejoiced over their own emancipation. 他们为自己的解放感到欢欣鼓舞。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

8 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》