2006年VOA标准英语-Nigeria: Seized Oil Workers May Be Released Soo

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
03 November 2006
 

An unidentified boy sells fuel at the waterside in Yenagoa, Nigeria, Nov. 2 2006

Nigerian officials involved in talks to release two foreign oil workers kidnapped Thursday say they expect the men to be released soon.

 

According to Ekiyon Wilson, spokesman for the governor of Nigeria's southern state of Bayelsa, the seized men could be released as early as Friday.

 

 

The men, a Briton and an American, were abducted¹ from a Norwegian ship off the coast of Bayelsa. This is the latest in the wave of kidnappings and violence against the oil industry.

 

The state government is leading mediation² efforts. Mr. Wilson told VOA that the kidnappers³, on behalf of the communities in the area, are demanding that the government provide better services in return for freeing the two men.

 

"Hopefully, they will be released today, hopefully," he said. "We are on it right now. They are demanding for amenities⁴ in their community. They want water, they want light, they want this, and they want that. It is a community problem. It is not even militants⁵ problem. It is a community who are demanding for development."

 

The current wave of attacks on foreigners in the world's eighth largest oil exporter has forced the withdrawal⁶ of hundreds of workers and a production decline of at least 500,000 barrels a day.

 

The violence has continued despite the recent pledge by Nigeria's president, Olusegun Obasanjo, to crack down on armed groups in the region.

 

Sam Oyadoho, a journalist in Bayelsa state, says the payment of ransom⁷ to obtain freedom for kidnapped oil workers is responsible for the increasing attacks on foreign workers.

 

"The whole thing is like a business venture for these boys now," he said. "Most times when they say kidnap, kidnap, the next thing government officials will go and negotiate on behalf of the hostages. They will trouble-shoot on behalf of the hostages and get them released. Most times, they will tell us they didn't pay ransom. But if they were not paying ransom don't think this thing [kidnappings] will be so rampant⁸. So, people on the street, you ask them, they see this whole thing as these boys taking advantage of seizing these people to get money."

 

Niger Delta⁹ groups say they are fighting for a greater share of the oil wealth. They say the inhabitants remain impoverished¹⁰ despite years of oil production, which has also damaged the environment.

 

Several foreigners have been kidnapped this year in the troubled region.

 

Armed groups in the delta say they are planning massive attacks against oil facilities in the next few days.

1 abducted   

劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展

参考例句：

• Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
• The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。

2 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

3 kidnappers   

n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were freed yesterday by their kidnappers unharmed. 他们昨天被绑架者释放了，没有受到伤害。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The kidnappers had threatened to behead all four unless their jailed comrades were released. 帮匪们曾经威胁说如果印度方面不释放他们的同伙，他们就要将这四名人质全部斩首。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 amenities   

n.令人愉快的事物；礼仪；礼节；便利设施；礼仪( amenity的名词复数 )；便利设施；（环境等的）舒适；（性情等的）愉快

参考例句：

• The campsite is close to all local amenities. 营地紧靠当地所有的便利设施。
• Parks and a theatre are just some of the town's local amenities. 公园和戏院只是市镇娱乐设施的一部分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

6 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

7 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

8 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

9 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

10 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》