By Amos Okioma
The Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to protect oil installations in the Niger Delta on Sunday confirmed the kidnap of two expatriate oil workers from an oil rig in Abua community in Rivers.
The abducted foreign oil workers, a Scottish and a Canadian were working at an onshore oilfield operated by Niger Delta Petroleum Recourses at Abua.
The oil workers were reportedly abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers at the oil field located at Abua-Odual Local Government of Rivers on Saturday.
Major Ibrahim Abdullahi, Spokesman of the JTF in Niger Delta who confirmed the development on Sunday said that the joint military force was working to free the oil workers.
Abdullahi said that the joint military force, christened Operation Delta Safe received report of the incident on Saturday and immediately deployed men and resources to the area.
He assured that troops of the joint force were on the trail of the kidnappers and to ensure the captives were freed unhurt.
Abdullahi further advised oil firms operating in the Niger Delta region to ensure adequate security cover for their personnel at oilfields.
“The report of the incident got to us on April 27, some gunmen visited the rig belonging to Niger Delta Petroleum Resources and carried out the attack and kidnapped two expatriates.
“Their nationals were not given. ”
We mobilised to comb the swamp but to no avail; we couldn’t arrest the perpetrators.
“Efforts have been intensified to rescue and arrest culprits, but we have also advised the management to provide adequate security to their operations,” Abdullahi said.