Militants hold Nigeria oil base

Southern militants are fighting to retain oil wealth in their region

Militants in Nigeria's oil-rich Delta region are occupying an oil station, along with about 28 people - including some soldiers.

The Ogbainbiri flow station, operated by the Italian firm Eni, was attacked on Sunday by gunmen who overpowered the troops guarding it.

The occupation comes as freed militant leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari urged his followers not to take hostages.

A wave of attacks in the Delta has cut Nigeria's oil production by 25%.

We are fighting injustice, we should not do injustice to other people Mujahid Dokubo-Asari

"It appears nobody was... harmed or killed as a consequence of the attack," Eni said in the statement.

It said 16 local workers and 11 soldiers had been abducted, while eight employees and 40 soldiers had managed to escape the armed attackers.

A BBC correspondent in the region says there is speculation that the occupation is in revenge for the alleged killing of several militants by the Nigerian military in the same area last week.

Criminal gangs

More than 20 foreign hostages have been freed in the past week.

At a news conference on his return to the oil capital, Port Harcourt, Mr Dokubo-Asari said he would try to end hostage-taking.

"We are fighting injustice, we should not do injustice to other people," he said.

He was freed on bail on health grounds last week after almost two years in custody on treason charges.

His release was one of the main demands of the groups who have been attacking Nigeria's oil facilities.

President Umaru Yar'Adua said bringing peace to the Delta was one of his priorities when he was inaugurated last month.

The main militant group has responded to Mr Yar'Adua by calling a one-month truce.

The militants want to keep more of Nigeria's oil wealth in the Delta but some criminal gangs have emerged, making money from ransom payments for hostages.