Nigerian militant group the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) confirmed on Thursday that one of its affiliate groups has abducted a vessel in the Niger Delta, southeast Nigeria, and kidnapped about 15 foreigners, according to agencies' reports.

The MEND made the announcement in a statement, saying an affiliate group hijacked the MV Spirit and took 15 crew members hostage.

Earlier, a security official told Xinhua on Thursday that unidentified gunmen suspected to be militants operating in the Niger Delta hijacked the ocean-going vessel, MV Spirit, on Wednesday with about 20 foreigners on board in oil-rich southeast Nigeria's Delta State.

Rabe Abubakar, spokesman of the Joint Task Force, confirmed the attack on the vessel but said there was no information on the possible number and whereabouts of the victims since their captors were yet to make contact or make demands.

"I can confirm to you that a vessel and a tanker were attacked by some group, but we are yet to confirm the number of people involved," he said.

The spokesman added other military formations have been alerted and they have mobilized their men with a view to ensuring early release of the abducted workers.

Militants and the Joint military Task Force in the Niger Delta Wednesday clashed in the swamps of the southern Niger Delta region.

More than 200 foreigners have been seized in the Niger Delta since early 2006.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2009)