Cameroon/France

Gunman threaten to kill French oilmen

Article published on the 2008-10-31 Latest update 2008-10-31 14:53 TU

(Map: RFI)

Gunmen who captured a French-owned vessel off the coast of Cameroon on Friday morning have threatened to kill ten members of the crew captured during the raid unless the government meets them within three days. Six of those captured were French, two are Cameroonian, one Tunisian and one Senegalese.

"The ten are in our hands. If you don't tell the government of Cameroon to come here and discuss with us, we will kill them all in three days," a man claiming to represent the Bakassi Freedom Fighters, a group which opposes Cameroon's take-over of the Bakassi peninsula, told the French news agency AFP.

The movement is associated with the Niger Delta Defence and Security Council which appears to have about 500 well-trained fighters in its ranks.

Correspondent Denis Nkebo in Douala says the hostages are being held at a rebel camp but that they may be moved. "It is not likely that the security forces in Cameroon could be able to get to the place and get the kidnapped people secured", he says.

Nigeria ceded Bakassi to Cameroon in August after a 15-year dispute over the oil-rich peninsula.

Five other members of the crew are reported to be safe.

The vessel, the Marseilles-based Bourbon Sagitta, is an Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel of a type used to haul anchors and drilling equipment in offshore fields. It was taking part in an operation to load crude oil onto a tanker in the Gulf of Guinea.