2007年VOA标准英语-More Oil Workers Kidnapped in Nigeria

（单词翻译）

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
25 January 2007

Suspected armed militants² attacked a Chinese oil company in the Southern Nigeria state, Bayelsa, Thursday, kidnapping at least two Chinese workers. From Abuja, Gilbert da Costa reports the latest hostage-taking is adding to growing concerns about violence in the region.

 
Militants patrol the creeks³ of the Niger Delta⁴ area ( Feb. 2006 file photo)
Bayelsa State Police Commissioner⁵ Hafiz Ringim confirmed the attack. He says one of the assailants died, following a shoot-out with security forces.

He told VOA the gunmen also broke into the finance offices of the China Petroleum⁶ Company and stole some money.

"There was an attack in the morning, about two, three people kidnapped," he said. "It happened six in the morning, barely four, five hours ago. They [attackers] burgled the accounts office, but one militant¹ was killed."

Some 100 hostages - mainly workers in the oil industry - have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta, in the past year.

Thursday's abduction was the second involving Chinese this month in the restive⁷ oil-rich region.

 
The five Chinese telecom workers abducted⁸ in Nigeria but later freed, arrive at the Beijing Capital airport, 22 Jan 2007
Five Chinese telecom workers seized by unidentified gunmen on January 5 were released last week.

Separatist groups fighting for a greater share of Nigeria's oil wealth have stepped up their campaign to cripple the multi-billion-dollar industry.

Hostages are often released after a few days or weeks in captivity⁹, with the payment of ransom¹⁰. A group of 24 Filipinos, abducted last week, is still being held.

Persistent¹¹ violence in the Niger Delta has hampered¹² oil production in the region, cutting output by a quarter.