Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
The Department of Foreign Affairs has noted with concern the abduction on 11 November 1998 of a group of eight foreign nationals near Warri in the Niger Delta region of South-eastern Nigeria. A South African national is amongst this group. This region has in recent times become volatile as local ethnic groups pursue their campaign for increased revenues from the Nigerian Government and multinational petroleum companies operating in the region. It is the Department's hope that the present hostage situation will be speedily resolved.
The South African High Commission in Lagos is in close contact with the company employing the South African national as well as the Nigerian authorities in an effort to secure their early release. Following this incident and others in the subregion the Department wishes to reiterate its earlier calls o South African nationals travelling to more isolated and unstable parts of the continent to register their presence with the Department of Foreign Affairs or nearest South African diplomatic mission, before venturing into these areas.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 12 NOVEMBER 1998