Nigeria's major militant group in the oil rich Niger Delta region, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), said on Monday that it had seized six crewmembers from a chemical tanker Siehem Peace at about 20 nautical miles from Escravos in Delta State.

"For disregarding our warning to oil, gas and chemical tankers to keep away from the Niger Delta waters, six crew members from the chemical tanker, Siehem Peace were seized about 20 nautical miles from Escravos on Sunday, July 5, 2009 by MEND and will be held until further notice," the group spokesman Jomo Gbomo said in an e-mail statement reaching here.

"Their arrest is meant to serve as a warning to others that there are root issues that have to be resolved with the Nigerian government before normalcy can resume such as the return of displaced civilians to their ancestral home, compensation for damages, return of the ill trained JTF (Joint Task Force) to their barracks and last but not the least, constitutional amendment to address fiscal federalism," it said.

The abducted expatriates comprise four Russian and two Philippines, it added.

A military spokesman told Xinhua that they are not aware of the development as they are in the period of Amenity.

The group has launched several attacks on international oil facilities in southern Nigeria as part of its campaign to get what it calls a fairer distribution of the region's oil wealth to local people.

Last month, it warned oil workers in the troubled oil rich Niger Delta region to leave within 72 hours to avoid an imminent attack.

The unrest in the region has forced many international firms operating there to flee the area, resulting in greater governmental concern over the area and the mobilization of the Nigerian army and coast guard into the region.

About 300 foreigners have been seized in the Niger Delta since 2006. Though almost all have been released unharmed, the international investors would not increase their funds in the area.

Source:Xinhua