New Hope for Hostages in Nigeria

(17 August 2006 - RV) Nigeria's President Obasanjo has promised to act agains those suspected of involvement in a string of kidnappings in the Niger Delta Region. He said he had ordered 24-hour patrols in the Delta's creeks and swamps, and threatened action against oil firms who paid ransoms for their workers. Five groups of foreign workers have been seized in the Delta in the past two weeks, but noone has been arrested. Nigerian authorities say they still do not have full details on how many hostages remain in captivity. Fr. Patrick Tor Alumuku is on the scene in Abuja. He says the people have a lot of hope in the new government approach to the crisis because hostage taking had become a lucrative business option for the country's youth.