Lawmaker kidnapped in Nigeria

Lagos, July 9 (IANS) Nigeria's police in the southeastern state of Rivers Wednesday confirmed the abduction of a member of the state house of assembly by unidentified gunmen.

State police spokesperson Muhammad Ahmad told reporters in Port Harcourt, the state capital, that Golden Chioma, chairman of the Rivers House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, was kidnapped Tuesday in Diobu area of the state capital and taken to unknown destination, Xinhua reported.

He said an investigation into the abduction has been launched.

Rivers state has one of the largest economies in Nigeria, mainly because of its crude oil.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility and no ransom has been demanded.

Abduction is common in Nigeria, where more than 500 Nigerians and foreigners have been seized in the oil-rich Niger Delta region since 2006. Almost all have been released unharmed after paying a ransom.