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Gunmen in Nigeria shoot two Lebanese men
Gunmen fired on a car carrying two Lebanese and their Nigerian driver in the oil region.
Gunmen fired on a car carrying two Lebanese men and their Nigerian driver on Friday, striking all three passengers as they headed to work in the restive southern oil region, police said.
The vehicle was heading to an office near the airport in Port Harcourt, Nigeria's main oil center, Rivers state Police Commissioner Felix Ogbaudu said by telephone.
He had no details on the condition of the men, who were taken to a local hospital.
It was unclear if the shooting was related to an upsurge in kidnappings and attacks on the oil industry in Africa's largest producer.
Non-political crime is rampant in the area. Violence in the region has spiked further in recent weeks, with analysts saying local politicians are arming and organizing thugs ahead of April general elections.
Nigerian militants have frequently taken foreign workers hostage since launching a wave of attacks on the country's oil industry in early 2006 that have cut oil exports by 25 per cent.
Hostages are generally released unharmed after a ransom is paid.
The militants are demanding a greater share of oil revenues for their southern region, where all of the crude in Africa's biggest producer are pumped. Despite the great riches stored under their lands, the region is among the poorest in Nigeria.
