Two killed in Niger Delta attack

Gunmen attacked a vessel operated by the South Korean firm Hyundai, near an oil export complex at Bonny Island.

Several others were reported wounded in a gun battle. No group so far has said it carried out the attack.

The country's oil-rich region has seen a series of attacks in recent months, as locals demand a share of the wealth.

The government says instability in the Delta cost some $4.4bn last year.

'Another reminder'

Reports say at least six people were wounded in the attack on the boat transporting oil workers between Bonny Island and the city of Port Harcourt.

A spokesman at the Dutch foreign ministry said he was aware of the incident but could not confirm if a Dutch person had been killed.

The Bonny Island complex produces some 400,000 barrels of oil for export each day and about 20 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas.

Earlier on Tuesday, eight people, including several local chiefs, were feared dead after gunmen attacked a boat in the southern Rivers State, police said.

The BBC's Alex Last in Abuja says despite the recent history of hostage-taking, it is relatively rare for oil workers to be killed - though the security forces have suffered much heavier losses.

Oil multinationals have evacuated thousands of workers from the western side of the delta region. Nine foreign workers are still being held hostage by different armed groups there.

This latest incident is another reminder of the worsening security situation, which does not bode well with Nigeria due to go to the polls in a few months' time, our correspondent says.