Briton 'seized from Nigeria rig'

The Delta has been hit by a wave of abductions since 2005

A British oil worker has been abducted from a rig off the Nigerian coast, a spokesman for drilling company Transocean has said.

Gunmen who boarded the Trident 8 rig left 23 other workers unharmed. The Briton, though to be from Scotland, is said to be a subcontractor for ConOil.

The Foreign Office said it was looking into the reports.

The Niger Delta, which accounts for all of Nigeria's crude exports, has been hit by a wave of attacks since 2005.

Militants often want oil companies to negotiate on a range of issues affecting local people, who see little benefit from the industry.