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'Britons kidnapped' in Nigeria Gunmen seize Britons in Nigeria
(28 minutes later)
Three British people and a Colombian have been seized in Nigeria's oil-rich Delta region, security sources say. Three British people and a Colombian working for oil giant Shell have been seized in Nigeria's Delta region.
Kidnappers snatched the four near the city of Port Harcourt, reportedly killing a Nigerian guard. Kidnappers snatched the four near the city of Port Harcourt, killing a Nigerian guard.
The oil-producing region is notorious for kidnappings by militants, who demand a greater share of its wealth.The oil-producing region is notorious for kidnappings by militants, who demand a greater share of its wealth.
But the Delta has been relatively calm since most major militant groups agreed to lay down their arms last year after the government offered an amnesty.But the Delta has been relatively calm since most major militant groups agreed to lay down their arms last year after the government offered an amnesty.
Reuters news agency reported that gunmen snatched the four on Tuesday morning as they made their way to work at a power plant. This is the first violent attack on foreigners in the region for many months.
Sources told Reuters that a Nigerian security officer was killed in the incident. The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos says the amnesty is now drifting in the absence of President Umaru Yar'Adua, who is undergoing medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.
Gunmen snatched the four on Tuesday morning as they made their way to work at a power plant, police say.
Their police escort was shot dead and the driver is also believed to have been shot.
A Shell spokesman in Nigeria confirmed the attack.
"We are concerned for the safety of the contractor staff and our thoughts are with them and their families at this difficult time," he said.
The British Foreign Office said it was looking into the report "as a matter of great urgency".The British Foreign Office said it was looking into the report "as a matter of great urgency".
No group has yet claimed to have kidnapped the group, who a police spokeswoman said were contractors with a Dutch company working for the Nigerian subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell PLC. No group has yet claimed to have kidnapped the group, which took place in Abia state.
Rivers State Police spokeswoman Rita Abbey told the AFP news agency: "They were ambushed by gunmen. Rivers State Police spokeswoman Rita Abbey told the AFP news agency that police had launched a search in and around the town of Aba, some 50km (30 miles) north-east of Port Harcourt.
"They are Shell contractors who were going to Aba in Abia state."
She added that police had launched a search in and around the town situated northeast of Port Harcourt.
Militants in the Niger Delta have cost Nigeria's oil industry millions of dollars over the years.Militants in the Niger Delta have cost Nigeria's oil industry millions of dollars over the years.
A variety of groups claimed to be fighting for the rights of local people to gain a greater share of the region's wealth.A variety of groups claimed to be fighting for the rights of local people to gain a greater share of the region's wealth.
But in reality, many of the groups stole oil from pipelines and extracted ransoms from kidnaps and used the money to arm themselves and finance more attacks.But in reality, many of the groups stole oil from pipelines and extracted ransoms from kidnaps and used the money to arm themselves and finance more attacks.