MEND statement reads:
"We wish to deny reports of our involvement in the kidnap of Filipino seamen off a cargo ship in Escravos, Delta State, on Saturday January 20, 2007. These misleading reports were carried in Sunday January 21, 2007 edition of the Vanguard and some other national dailies.
It is pathetic that these dailies feed the Nigerian public with such falsehood without bothering to verify the authenticity of their information. We do not attack cargo vessels, issue ultimatums nor do we execute hostages in our custody without good reason. The continued detention of Asari Dokubo and DSP Alamieseigha does not in our opinion, constitute sufficient justification for taking a human life.
This action was carried out by a community in the vicinity of the abduction, for reasons they will explain. To our knowledge, this abduction was carried out by individuals working on behalf of dubious groups in the delta who have in recent days been losing their relevance to the Nigerian government and oil companies. These individuals it is hoped will shortly emerge to effect the release of these Filipinos who are not involved in the oil industry in any way then again, appear relevant to the oil companies and the Nigerian government.
If by some miracle this abduction is related to the struggle for justice in the delta, it is a welcome development especially as that community in the past, has worked closely with Shell to sabotage the struggle of the Niger Delta people, exchanging their birthright for generators from Shell and personal gratification from oil companies and the Nigerian government."
Filipino crew is captured as unrest grips Nigeria
Hostage-taking part of militants' effort to acquire more local control of oil resources
By Katharine Houreld
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAGOS, Nigeria - Kidnappers grabbed six Filipino workers off a merchant ship Saturday in the latest hostage-taking in Nigeria's restive southern oil-producing region, officials said.
The vessel was heading to the oil port of Warri with a crew of 14 when unidentified gunmen boarded and took away the six non-Nigerians, Delta state spokesman Ozoene Sheddy said. Initial reports said seven foreigners were taken, but that proved incorrect, Sheddy said.
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Militants seeking to pressure the national government into giving more local control over the area's oil resources have stepped up kidnappings since launching a wave of attacks on oil facilities in early 2006 that have cut oil exports by Africa's biggest oil producer 25 percent.
Militant groups behind dozens of kidnappings in recent months could not immediately be reached for comment on the latest incident.
Nearly 100 foreign hostages, mostly oil workers, have generally been released unharmed, usually after a ransom is paid. However, a Briton and a Nigerian died in crossfire during a gunbattle between militants and Nigerian security forces trying to free the hostages.
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On Thursday, militants released five Chinese hostages and one Italian who had been taken in separate incidents. Two Italians and one Lebanese remained in captivity.
The conflict stems from the deep poverty that afflicts the people of the Niger River delta despite the area's production of tens of billions of dollars in oil revenue every year. Violence has cut oil production to fewer than 2 million barrels a day, compared with the previous 2.5 million.
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