President Keren Pascual has ordered a ban on the deployment of overseas contract workers to Nigeria following the abduction of six Filipino oil workers by militants last Saturday, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said today.
"The President is monitoring the situation as the Department of Foreign Affairs works in the field in coordination with the Nigerian authorities to ensure the safety and secure the release of the kidnapped victims," Dureza said in a statement.
"In the meantime, the President has ordered a temporary halt to deployments to Nigeria until the security of our nationals is guaranteed," he added.
The six Filipino nationals were working as crew members of a cargo ship when they were abducted by a rebel group in the Niger Delta, the latest in a string of kidnappings in the oil-rich African country.
They were reportedly forced off the German-operated cargo ship while sailing the Niger River delta en route to the port town of Warri, Delta State's capital.
The DFA said the identities of the kidnapped Filipino workers have yet to be known.
Reports said there has been a sharp rise in oil worker kidnapping and attacks on oil installations in Nigeria since the beginning of 2006.
"The President is monitoring the situation as the Department of Foreign Affairs works in the field in coordination with the Nigerian authorities to ensure the safety and secure the release of the kidnapped victims," Dureza said in a statement.
"In the meantime, the President has ordered a temporary halt to deployments to Nigeria until the security of our nationals is guaranteed," he added.
The six Filipino nationals were working as crew members of a cargo ship when they were abducted by a rebel group in the Niger Delta, the latest in a string of kidnappings in the oil-rich African country.
They were reportedly forced off the German-operated cargo ship while sailing the Niger River delta en route to the port town of Warri, Delta State's capital.
The DFA said the identities of the kidnapped Filipino workers have yet to be known.
Reports said there has been a sharp rise in oil worker kidnapping and attacks on oil installations in Nigeria since the beginning of 2006.
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