The families of two New Zealand oil workers abducted in Nigeria were still waiting for news of their loved ones tonight as a three-year-old British girl became the latest kidnap victim in the increasingly lawless oil region.
The British government today called for the immediate release of Margaret
Hill, kidnapped on her way to school - the first foreign child seized in Nigeria.
New Zealanders Bruce Klenner and Brent Goddard were among a group of five workers taken at gunpoint by raiders who stormed their barge-mounted rig in the Niger Delta in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The other three workers are from Australia, Lebanon, and Venezuela.
It's a tense time for the kidnapped men's families with Mr Klenner's wife Linda Klenner, of New Plymouth, and Mr Goddard's partner Gilly Sannazzaro, of Wellington, sitting close to the phone waiting for news.
A New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said today the ministry believed everything possible was being done to secure the release of the kidnapped men.
"We are remaining in close contact with those who are involved in trying to secure the release of the kidnapped men and we can confirm there has been contact from the group which claims to be holding them."
In recent years the vast, oil-rich Niger Delta has become notorious for its virtual lawlessness.
In the past 15 months about 200 foreigners - mostly oil workers - have been abducted and at least 15 remain in captivity.
Hostages are generally released unharmed after a ransom is paid, although at least two have been killed in shoot-outs with security forces.
While no demands have yet been made in relation to the New Zealanders, a Shell spokesperson said yesterday the company did not pay ransom for the release of kidnapped workers, but was obviously concerned for them.
- NZPA
