Nigerian militants on Thursday released pictures of seven foreign oil worker hostages — showing the men with guns at their heads — shortly before militants said that attacks on oil workers and facilities would continue in the coming days.
The pictures, taken in what appeared to be a jungle setting, were sent to Reuters from an e-mail address that has previously been used by the militants.
The militants seized nine men, including the seven in the pictures, from a barge run by U.S. oil services company Willbros Saturday.
The photographs were accompanied by a message reading: “Pictures of our guests along with a part of the unit that captured them.”
The militants said they would continue attacks on oil installations in the next few days.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said any release of the nine oil workers would depend on the freeing of two jailed Ijaw leaders, and denied that negotiations were under way with the government.
Attacks have already cut Nigerian oil exports by a fifth. Nigeria is the world’s eighth-largest oil exporter.
The militants have demanded the release of two ethnic Ijaw leaders and more local control over the region’s huge oil wealth. The Ijaw are the dominant tribe in the delta.
