3 oil service ships attacked and at least 2 workers kidnapped

According to reports on 20 December 2008, unidentified gunmen attacked three oil service ships and kidnapped at least two Russian workers in the Niger Delta. In the first incident, which occurred late on 19 December, gunmen attacked the Falcon Crest and Falcon Wings service vessels -- which are owned and operated by Canada's Addax Petroleum -- off the coast of Akwa Ibom state. A Filipino captain was killed on one of the ships before the gunmen reportedly fled to Cameroonian waters. Gunmen also attacked a ship owned by Nigeria's Monipulo oil company near the Abana offshore oilfields. In a separate incident, gunmen in speedboats attacked a Russian housing compound in the port town of Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom state early on 20 December. Two Russian workers were kidnapped in the attack. The workers are employees of Russia's United Company, the world's largest aluminum producer. Although the company confirmed that its workers were abducted, it did not report if a ransom had been demanded for their release. Akwa Ibom state, which is located in the eastern Niger Delta, shares a border with Cameroon and has seen an increase in kidnappings and attacks on oil vessels and personnel since Nigeria handed over administration of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in a controversial decision in August 2008.