Niger Delta Militants Kidnap Italian construction worker kidnapped for ransom in the Niger Delta

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ITALY'S foreign ministry has revealed that a 55-year old Italian construction worker has been kidnapped in the Niger Delta in what appears to be an abduction for ransom.

Marcello Rizzo, 55, from the Sicilian town of Randazzo, works for the Italian construction company Gitto Costruzioni. A technician, Mr Rizzo has lived in Nigeria for eight years and was a project manager for a civil engineering company involved in the construction of Onitsha-Asaba bridge across the River Niger.

An Italian foreign ministry spokesman said: "We were informed of his disappearance several days ago.  We have had some contacts with the kidnappers and we hope we will see a positive conclusion."

He added that the ministry was also in contact with Mr Rizzo's family and opened all possible channels with maximum restraint. It is believed that one of the numerous armed militant groups in the Niger Delta are holding Mr Rizzo somewhere in the creeks.