Navy frees 28 kidnapped oil workers in Nigeria

LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria's navy says it has found 28 Nigerian kidnapped oil workers who had been working for a Chinese petroleum company in the West African nation's oil-rich southern delta.

Commodore Kabir Aliyu said Monday that authorities found the Sinopec Corp. workers in an abandoned waterside camp in Cross River state. He said gunmen kidnapped the oil workers Thursday, took them to a camp and fled before authorities arrived there Friday.

Foreign oil companies have pumped oil out of the delta for more than 50 years. Despite the billions of dollars flowing to Nigeria's government, many in this region of creeks and mangroves remain desperately poor.

Militants and opportunistic criminals have previously kidnapped local and foreign workers in the area.