Gunmen abduct 2 oil workers, hit terminal in Nigeria

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, May 5 (Reuters) Gunmen abducted two foreign oil workers from a drilling rig off Nigeria's coast and attacked a nearby oil export terminal today, security sources said.

The two hostages were taken from a rig known as Trident 8 in shallow water off the coast of the Niger Delta, while the other attack occurred nearby at the 200,000 barrel per day Brass crude oil export terminal operated by Italian oil company Agip, they said.

''Two militant attacks occurred this morning. Two expats were kidnapped from Trident 8 jack-up rig and Agip Brass terminal was attacked,'' one of the sources said.

The companies operating the facilities were not immediately available for comment.

The latest abduction brings to 28 the number of foreign workers kidnapped in the world's eighth largest oil exporter this week.

Eight were released and 20 are still being held.

REUTERS SG BD1509