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 LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) - The drama of foreign oil workers kidnapped for ransom in restive southern Nigeria plays out so often that it seems the hostage takers, the oil giants and the army follow a script — one that usually ends peacefully with the captives released unharmed.
But not always, and the death Wednesday of a British oil worker during a hostage rescue attempt in the Niger Delta made clear that doing business in Africa's oil leviathan is deadly serious. Analysts said Thursday the risks are set to increase as the West African nation prepares for an OPEC conference next month and nationwide elections in April.
"There has been a big increase in the number of hostage-related incidents this year ... and a buildup of tension ahead of the elections. No doubt we'll see that continue," said Peter Sharwood-Smith, the country operations manager for ArmorGroup, a private security consultancy with many clients in the oil industry. "Various different movements that are present in the delta will want to get their point across before the elections and influence the result."
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