Gunmen kidnap five Chinese workers in Nigeria

ABUJA, Jan 5 (Reuters) Gunmen in Nigeria's southern Niger Delta abducted five Chinese workers in the early hours today, a Chinese embassy spokesman in Abuja said.

Zhang Hong Liang said the embassy was in contact with authorities in Rivers state, where the kidnapping took place, to try and secure the release of the men. Abductions for ransom are common in the volatile, oil-producing Niger Delta.

REUTERS AKJ BD1706