Gunmen kidnap oil contractor from ship off Nigeria

LAGOS, Nigeria — The local subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp. in Nigeria says gunmen have kidnapped a contract worker from a ship supplying its operations off the coast of the oil-rich nation’s southern delta.

A statement issued Tuesday by the oil company said the attack happened early Monday morning off the coast of Akwa Ibom state. The company said the attack targeted a supply ship run by an outside contractor.

A similar attack Sept. 30 saw attackers kidnap a contract worker as well. The company said it had no further information about that attack.

Despite the billions flowing into Nigeria’s government, many in Nigeria’s southern delta remain desperately poor, living in polluted waters without access to proper medical care, an education or work. That has spurred militant activity in the past.