It has been learnt that five oil workers have been kidnapped by gunmen within the Oil Mining Lease (OML) -55 operated by an indigenous oil company in the Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the development was confirmed by the Rivers police command, which said all hands were on deck to ensure the unconditional release of the workers.
The report added that the police public relations officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said that gunboats had been deployed to trail the abductors, while assuring that the victims would be released unhurt.
“Yes, I can confirm that five seismic workers were kidnapped two days ago. We have intensified efforts to ensure their release and gunboats have been deployed.
“We are working with other sister agencies, especially the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, to ensure they are released within record time,” he said.
According to the report, the oil workers are personnel of a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
They were reportedly on the site of an ongoing seismic operations by Belemaoil when they abducted.