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The Foreign Office has confirmed that a British national has been kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria. The man, originally from Scotland, was reportedly an ex-employee of the petrochemicals firm Indo Rama, and was captured by a five-strong gang.
Since 2006, in excess of 200 foreigners have been kidnapped by militants in the Niger Delta, the hub of the country's oil industry. Almost all have been released without harm, but oil supplies have been disrupted by the rebel actions.
A spokeswoman from the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm a British national was kidnapped on 15 September in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Nigerian authorities are taking the lead in the investigation into the incident and our officials are in touch with them."
The Foreign Office also verified the man was Scottish-born. He is thought to be a businessman from Aberdeen who has lived in Nigeria for a number of years.
The kidnapping occurred as conflict intensified in the oil-rich West African country. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) declared they had blown up a pipeline operated by Royal Dutch Shell, while security forces were said to have fought off an armed attack on a Chevron Corporation oil platform.
Gun battles along the region's rivers and creeks have claimed the lives of at least nine militants and several members of the armed forces, as well as some civilians.
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