Five charged with kidnapping British oil worker in Nigeria

Five men were today charged with the kidnapping of a British oil worker in Nigeria.

David Ward was rescued last week during a military raid in the country’s troubled southern oil region.

Kidnappings are epidemic in southern Nigeria, but prosecution of the hostage takers is rare.

The suspects, brought to court in handcuffs in the oil industry centre of Port Harcourt, were charged with kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment of Mr Ward, who worked for oil services company, Hydride.

No pleas were taken during the brief appearance and the men were remanded in prison.

They face more than seven years in jail if convicted.

Nigerian troops arrested them during the dawn raid on Friday in Ababa Etch village, 20 miles west of Port Harcourt, that freed Mr Ward.

More than 200 foreign oil workers have been kidnapped in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta since attacks targeting the oil industry surged in late 2005.

The attacks are either by militants who want more local control of oil revenues for the region’s impoverished inhabitants or criminal gangs kidnapping for ransom.