Contending Issues in the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria - Journal of ...

Chapter IV: Fishers of Men: The Political Economy of Kidnapping in the
Niger Delta
Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on December 24, 2004 at
Amatu, Ekeremoh Local council of Bayelsa State over SPDC’s breach
of an MOU and also , when Mr. Ivan Roso, a Croatian was taken by
militant youths at the Shell Sea Eagle floating crude oil production
facility on December 26, 2004 over a similar breach by the same
company. Youths from Odioma Community in Brass Local Council of
Bayelsa State had earlier, on November 18, 2004, shut down and
occupied SPDC’s 8,000 barrels a day flow station over violation of an
MOU by SPDC. Following the Wilbros workers’ kidnap, especially
since early 2006, militants and criminal gangs have been blamed for
hundreds of kidnappings involving the payment of ransom, thereby,
turning what began as a political weapon into a veritable economic
activity and a new occupation for unemployed youths in the Niger
Delta.
In addition to expatriates, especially oil workers, who are
classified as category A, by the kidnappers because of their high
ransom value, victims have included Nigerian oil workers, family
members of political office holders and wealthy Nigerians in category
B and others in category C. Apart from the foreign staff of oil
companies, the list includes expatriate staff of the German road
construction giant, Julius Berger who were picked up in Port
Harcourt while working on the East-West Road; Professor Nimi
Briggs, former Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt and
Chairman, Rivers State Electoral Commission who was abducted from
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