Continual abductions in Niger Delta force Indorama to shutdown

11-Jun-07

Indorama, which bought Nigeria's Eleme Petrochemical plant in Rivers State, has been forced to shut down its plant, as 120 of its expatriate workers, mostly Indians, have relocated from the Niger Delta due to ceaseless abductions by militants in the region. Niger Delta militants abducted 11 Indians comprising 7 workers, 2 of their wives and 2 children, from the living quarters of the company earlier this month. Almost 3,000 indigenous workers of the Niger Delta employed by the company, might also lose their jobs, unless the company gets government backing to provide security. Several groups of militant youths from the Niger Delta have been abducting expatriate workers in the region to back their demand for a greater say in the exploitation of oil and gas endowments.