A Canadian citizen has been kidnapped in Nigeria, Global Affairs Canada confirms.
“Consular officials are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information,” the agency said in a statement on Sunday evening.
The Canadian was one of three oil workers taken from a rig in Nigeria’s Delta region on Saturday, Nigerian officials said. The two others were from Scotland and Nigeria.
The attackers raided a rig in Ogbele, Rivers State at around 8 a.m., the spokesman for the area’s military operations, Major Ibrahim Abubakar, said.
Niger Delta Petroleum Resources, the company that owns the rig, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Troops were searching surrounding swamps, the military spokesman added. State police said they had stepped up security on an east-west road where armed men had attacked civilians in recent weeks.
Global Affairs said the family of the Canadian is being provided with consular services.
The person’s identity is not known, and Global Affairs said no further information can be released due to privacy laws.
READ MORE: Elderly Canadian couple safe after witnessing kidnapping of tourist in Uganda
The Niger Delta produces the bulk of Nigeria’s crude. It has been plagued by criminal gangs and by armed groups demanding a greater share of oil revenues for the region.
On Thursday, two Royal Dutch Shell oil workers were kidnapped and their police escorts killed in Rivers State while returning from a trip.
With files from Kerri Breen, Global News
Comments