Filipino oil workers abducted in Nigeria

LAGOS, Nigeria, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Three Filipinos working at a Nigerian LNG plant on Bonny Island were kidnapped Friday.

The workers were abducted on their way to work on the plant, which is jointly owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp., which has a 49 percent stake; Shell, with 25.6 percent of total shares; Total, with 15 percent; and ENI with 10.4 percent.

On Thursday, a German national who worked for a construction group was kidnapped from Nigeria's Port Harcourt oil facility.

Kidnappings of foreign oil workers in Nigeria are becoming increasingly common. The workers are usually released after negotiations with the kidnappers, many of who are members of groups seeking a greater portion of Nigeria's oil wealth for their region.