The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has confirmed the abduction of an oil exploration team in northeast Nigeria.
They were ambushed on Tuesday after a gun duel between sect members, security agents and CJTF members.
“About 10 members of an exploration team were kidnapped around Jibi village in Borno state”, Ndu Ughamadu, NNPC spokesman told DAILY POST on Wednesday.
Asked to confirm whether the victims are NNPC staff, he explained that most of them were contracted.
“In NNPC, we have a division saddled with oil exploration. The division contracted IDSL, a company that does data collection and exploration services.
“IDSL then contracted staff of survey and geological department of the University of Maiduguri who were abducted on Tuesday”.
UNIMAID spokesman, Danjuma Gambo, also confirmed the abduction and said the institution was awaiting further details from security operatives.
“There is no denying the fact that this incident happened, involving our staff, NNPC workers and security escorts from the military and the (civilian militia),” he said.
“Our staff who were recruited as consultants were on the team that was ambushed.
“It was clear Boko Haram studied their movements before attacking them”.
The oil prospecting team had been working in the Magumeri area of Borno state for the last month.
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