(Xinhua) -- Nigerian main snuffy group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta... a confederation of bands of bandidos portraying itself of a political organization grabbing for Nigeria's oil boodle ...
(MEND), on Tuesday said it was responsible for the attack on the Shallow- water Okoro oilfield in the late hours of Sunday as an official confirmed that seven hostages had been seized.
The group spokesperson Jomo Gbomo disclosed this in a statement reaching here.
"Jomo Gbomo"? We have an early winner in this week's funny name contest...
London-Based oil exploration firm Afren said on Monday that Nigerian gunnies had attacked its offshore oil rig and made off with five crew members.
The company also said two others were maimed in the attack which occurred on Sunday.
"The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) hereby confirm that the attack on the Shallow-water Okoro oilfield in the late hours of Sunday the Nov. 7 2010 was carried out by our fighters," the group said.
"All the kidnapped expatriates are well and in our safe custody, " it added. "All the fighters who participated in this attack have safely returned to base," MEND said.
"Within the next 24hrs, we will release the names of all expatriates currently being held in our different camps," it added.
A separate report quoted a company official saying that Seven foreign hostages were taken, modifying the previous number of five. It also said two Indonesian victims had been confirmed.