British oil hostages in Nigeria

Negotiations are taking place to free more than 30 British oil workers who are being held captive on four oil rigs off the Nigerian coast.

Local employees took control of the platforms, after some of their colleagues were sacked. So far specific demands remain unclear. The platforms are located in deep water south of the Niger Delta. It is believed that the siege has been going on for more than a week but it has only recently come to public attention when hostages contacted their families.

Transocean, who operate the platforms, said it was holding discussions with the hostage-takers, and that no-one had been harmed. Conditions on board are not believed to be good with heat, and diminishing food and water supplies causing concerns.

Violence in the Niger Delta has led in the past to suspension of operations by multinational operatrors, resulting in large reductions of Nigeria's daily exports of crude oil.

Nigeria is the world's sixth largest oil exporter.

Back