The Hindu : Oil rig hostages: Rescue efforts on

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 02, 2003

International

International

Oil rig hostages: Rescue efforts on

LAGOS (Nigeria): Nigerian navy ships and private helicopter pilots were preparing on Thursday for the possible evacuation of 97 foreigners and 170 Nigerians who were being held hostage on oil rigs by striking workers. A senior navy official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the captives "should be rescued" imminently. However, it was unclear if that meant a raid or some sort of organised surrender by the hostage-takers. A pilot of the private helicopter company said he and other crew members had been asked to be ready for a possible air evacuation of those onboard the rigs. About 100 disgruntled Nigerian oil workers have been holding the hostages — including 35 Britons, 17 Americans and one Canadian — since April 19 aboard four drilling rigs owned by Houston-based Transocean. The rigs are stationed about 30 km off Nigeria's coast. The strikers were protesting a company decision to transport Nigerian workers to the oil platforms by helicopter instead of boat. They were also angry over the dismissal of five union members for alleged insubordination. — AP

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