Militants attack Turkish oil supply vessel

Unidentified militants attacked an oil supply vessel near Port Harcourt on 21 April 2009. Reports indicate that the Turkish-flagged Ilena Mercan was en route from Lagos to Onne port in Rivers state to deliver equipment to the French oil company Total when the gunmen attacked. The militants kidnapped the vessel's captain and first engineer and took them to an unknown location while the vessel was put under the "protection" of Total and continued to its destination. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack and Total representatives have not released the nationalities of the two abducted crewmembers.