Nigeria says 13 oil workers rescued

Nigerian security forces said Saturday that they had rescued 13 oil workers abducted in the last week, including nine foreigners, and destroyed a key militant camp in the heart of Africa’s biggest oil industry region.

The Niger delta’s main militant group has declared an “all-out war” and warned oil companies to evacuate staffers after three days of heavy clashes with the military.

The army said its forces, using gunboats and helicopters, would continue an offensive to drive out militants from the creeks after the hijacking of two oil vessels and attacks on troops in southern Delta state.

The fighting in the OPEC member nation so far has had little effect on global crude oil markets.

“We will carry on with our operations until we stabilize the situation,” said Col. Rabe Abubakar, spokesman for the military task force in the Niger delta. He said two soldiers were wounded in the fighting.

Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron and other energy companies working in the area were given until Saturday by the militants to remove their workers.

The military on Friday freed nine Filipinos and four Nigerians who had been seized two days before when their oil vessel MV Spirit was hijacked by militants near Warri.

A total of 20 people were believed to have been on board the ship, chartered by state oil firm NNPC.

The rescued crew members told reporters that two Filipinos were killed and at least five were wounded by crossfire.

“We thought we were going to die as bombs were coming down,” said one.