PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, March 5 (Reuters) - Gunmen in Nigeria have kidnapped a Lebanese construction worker in the oil-rich Niger Delta, a military spokesman said on Thursday. Colonel Rabe Abubakar, spokesman for the joint military taskforce in the eastern Niger Delta, said the Lebanese expatriate working for Nigeria-based Elite Construction Company was seized and taken to an unknown destination on Wednesday. More than 200 foreigners have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta over the past three years, the vast majority of them released unharmed after payment of a ransom. Some of the kidnappings have been carried out by militant groups who say they are fighting for a fairer share of the region's natural wealth, but copy-cat gangs have taken advantage of the insecurity to carry out abductions purely for profit. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/ ) (Reporting by Austin Ekeinde; writing by Randy Fabi; editing by Tim Pearce)
A fire fighter attempts to put out fire at the offices of All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) in Nigeria's capital Abuja, March 5, 2009. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde (NIGERIA) ...
