Nigeria Arrests Militants for Seizing Oil Workers

Nigeria's military spokesman says soldiers have arrested a militant leader who authorities believe is responsible for a recent rash of kidnappings of oil workers in the oil rich southern delta.

Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha said Saturday the leader was taken with 62 suspected members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta. Antigha says the leader is known by his nickname, "Obese."

Antigha says the military believes the group kidnapped two Americans, two Frenchmen, two Indonesians, one Canadian and 12 Nigerians in recent weeks from Exxon Mobil Corp. and Afren PLC facilities.

On Wednesday night, a military operation freed 19 hostages in the oil rich region held by MEND _ including seven expatriate workers.

Posted courtesy of INO.Com/AP



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