Posted on 07/05/2007 5:22:00 PM PDT by DieHard the Hunter
The kidnappers eluded security provided by the Kiwis' American employer.
Lone Star Drilling, contracted to oil giant Shell, told the partner of one of the New Zealanders that at least one person was injured during the raid in which shots were fired.
Brent Goddard, of Wellington, and Bruce Klenner, of New Plymouth, were kidnapped with three other men at dawn on Wednesday as they worked on a rig in the Niger Delta, where at least four other Kiwis have been kidnapped and later freed since 1999.
The other hostages taken in the latest raid were Jason Lane, of Australia, George Saliba, of Lebanon, and Andreas Gambra, of Venezuela.
Goddard's partner, Gilly Sannazzaro, said yesterday she went into shock and "just lost it" after being told by Lone Star executives of the attack and kidnapping.
She said the gunmen had contacted the firm to say the men were OK, and no demands for money had been made.
"They (the firm) run a pretty tight ship, from all accounts. They have security guards," she said.
"I asked for a photo of security that is out on the rig and I got this photo of boats with semi-automatic rifles on them."
Sannazzaro, 45, a mother-of-two, said Lone Star told her the attack started at 4am (3pm New Zealand time).
"My immediate concern is if they were attacked at 4am, where were the security people?" she said.
"Lone Star just said the rig was seized and the gunmen were on board and had taken dynamite on. There was firing; there was someone hurt.
"They didn't give me any more details than that, except five workers were taken as hostages and were removed from the rig. They don't know the location or the whereabouts of the men."
Goddard was Lone Star's chief mechanic and had 10 years of experience in the oil industry, she said. Before that he had worked as a commercial diver and was an experienced hunter.
"He is going to take this absolutely in his stride. That is one thing that attracted me to Brent when I first met him – his level-headedness, his attitude to life.
"He is a very clever man," she said.
"That is not to say this situation won't have him stressed, but he will deal with it in a way that won't jeopardise his safety or that of his colleagues."
The Niger Delta has been at the centre of a long confrontation between the Nigerian Government, militants who claim to be fighting for a larger share of oil resources for locals, and armed gangs out to gain ransom money.
At least 200 foreigners, mostly oil workers, have been kidnapped in the region since the beginning of lst year. Most have been freed.
The kidnappings have not deterred Kaiapoi oil worker Matthew Pasco, who is returning to the region despite narrowly escaping a kidnapping attempt when his rig was raided this year.
It is not known which group was responsible for Wednesday's raid.
Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer and the world's eighth-largest exporter of crude oil.
Klenner's wife, Linda, said her husband and Goddard were friends and fishing partners.
She was confident they would emerge safely from their ordeal.
Lone Star told her that sources in Nigeria said the men had not been harmed.
She said it was a nervous time and she would spend the next few days by the telephone.
"I think there is risk in any job, really," she said.
"It's just where it is and the volatility of the place, but I just honestly believe it's going to be all right. You have to."
She said it was her husband's second stint in Nigeria and that he had been there working month-on, month-off since November last year.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said through a spokesman that diplomats were liaising with Shell as well as Australian authorities and the Nigerian Government.
They were also offering support to the men's families.
"Shell has considerable experience in these matters and they are taking the lead," the spokesman said.
"At this point we don't have a lot more detail."
New Zealand High Commissioner to Britain Jonathan Hunt, who is accredited to Nigeria, said there were few details about the motive.
"We don't know who abducted them or if any demands have been received from the kidnappers," he said yesterday.
Ping for your threat matrix
The Muslims of Northern Nigeria seem to generate a disproportionate amount of criminal activity. It's common for Muslims to be pirates -- after all, their role model made his loot as a sand pirate robbing caravans
The most populous country on the continent should generate the most criminal activity.
> The most populous country on the continent should generate the most criminal activity.
True, if we were only speaking about the continent of Africa. I’m speaking in world terms: Nigeria gives the impression of having a disproportionate number of crooks.
It might be my impression but I generally link countries like China and Russia higher on the crime list. Independent statistics on the issue are hard to find.
> It might be my impression but I generally link countries like China and Russia higher on the crime list.
It’s probably all this spam that I keep getting from “Dr Mboko” who has a few million of ill-gotten gains to share with an “honest and reliable person...” 100% risk free!
Dr Mboko has received his ‘BS’ in waste management last I heard. He only needs half that now...
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