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Ship hijacked in Nigeria's oil-rich south: security sources

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria - A Nigerian ship with eight crew members has been hijacked in the country's oil-rich south, security sources said Monday.

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The "Benue", owned by service and repair firm West African Offshore Ltd (WAO), was seized on Sunday afternoon, said an official from Nigeria's national intelligence unit.

"We have received a report about the hijacking of this vessel," a security source told AFP, adding that it was seized at Bonny Channel, off the coastal Rivers State, on its way from Agbami oil field to Onne, a major hub for local offshore activities.

The WAO, which owns the ship, did not comment immediately. The company provides ships as well as repair and maintaince services to oil companies in the region and logistical support for offshore operations.

Violence, including the kidnapping of oil workers, in Nigeria's volatilesouth has reduced total oil production by a quarter since January 2006.

Nigeria had been until recently Africa's largest oil producer but was overtaken in April by Angola, according to Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) figures.