20100419
press tv

In Nigeria's latest kidnapping incident, unidentified gunmen have reportedly abducted two German workers in the country's oil-producing southeast region.

The men, aged 45 and 55, were taken on Sunday from a local beach in Abia State, a security source told AFP.

According to the report, one of the men worked in the oil hub of Port Harcourt, while the other came from Lagos.

The German foreign ministry said it was looking into the incident.

This is the second major kidnapping of foreign workers in southern Nigeria during the past 10 days.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the ambush.

Kidnappings are commonplace in southern Nigeria's oil region.

In the past three years alone, hundreds of people, mostly foreign workers, businessmen and local politicians, have been snatched in the restive region.

The victims are usually released unharmed a few days later.

The gunmen say they are fighting for a larger share of profits from crude oil extractions in Africa's largest oil producer.