Three-year-old son of Nigerian regional chief kidnapped

Gunmen have seized the three-year-old son of a prominent Nigerian chief in restive southern Nigeria, police said today.

The boy – the son of Eze Francis Amadi, a traditional ruler in the area – was kidnapped by two gunmen while being driven to school, police spokeswoman Irejua Barasua said.

She said Nigerian security services were investigating the kidnapping, and police were questioning the driver.

The toddler is the fourth child taken captive in less than two months in the oil-rich region, which has seen an epidemic of kidnappings this year.

Most of those kidnapped have been foreigners, though Nigerians, including three children, also have been targeted.

Some groups say they are fighting for more political rights and an increased share of oil revenues for their impoverished region. Other kidnappers merely are demanding large cash ransoms.

Nigerian kidnappers do not typically injure their hostages, although some have reported being beaten with sticks and a Belarusian woman shot in the knee was held for over a week without medical attention.

The kidnappings have contributed to a cut in production in Africa’s largest oil producer by more than a quarter, driving up prices worldwide.