2007年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Military Hunts for Abductors of Foreig

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
28 September 2007

The Nigerian military says it is leading a manhunt for gunmen who seized two foreign oil workers in the latest attack on the country's troubled oil industry. Gilbert da Costa in Abuja reports that the kidnapping has heightened fears of possible violence after threats by a rebel group to resume attacks following the arrest of one its leaders.

 

A military spokesman in the oil-rich Niger Delta¹, Major Sagir Musa, says security agencies have been mobilized to track down the kidnappers² and secure the release of two abducted³ oil workers.

 

"Efforts are being made by the JTF [Joint Military Task Force] and other relevant security agencies to ensure their early release," he said. "The management [of the Saipem oil company] has equally expressed disaffection about the whole situation and their readiness and commitment to ensuring that they are released immediately."

 

No group has claimed responsibility for Thursday's attack in the main oil city of Port Harcourt, in southern Nigeria.

 

Officials say 10 gunmen disguised as soldiers raided the construction yard of an oil service company Saipem. One Colombian worker was killed and a second Colombian worker and a Filipino were taken hostage.

 

It was the first high-profile attack on an oil company in the Niger Delta in more than two months.

 

A rebel group, the Movement for the Emancipation⁴ of the Niger Delta, or MEND, had on Sunday threatened to launch attacks on Africa's top oil producer following the arrest of one of its leaders in Angola.

 

Major Musa says the authorities are taking the threat seriously.

 

"This is not the first time such a group is making a threat," he said. "But we are not taking that as empty. We are monitoring the situation to avert⁵ all loopholes such kinds of people may use to perpetrate their evil acts."

 

Western oil companies have strengthened security in the wake of the threat.

Armed groups who claim to be seeking a larger share of the region's oil wealth have stepped up attacks on foreigners and oil facilities in the past two years.

 

More than 200 foreign workers have been abducted since early 2006. Nearly all have been released after the payment of ransom⁶.

1 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。

2 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》

3 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。

4 emancipation   

n.（从束缚、支配下）解放

参考例句：

• We must arouse them to fight for their own emancipation. 我们必须唤起他们为其自身的解放而斗争。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They rejoiced over their own emancipation. 他们为自己的解放感到欢欣鼓舞。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 avert   

v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)

参考例句：

• He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
• I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。

6 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。

7 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。

8 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。