Lagos: An Indian is among three expatriate construction workers who were kidnapped in Nigeria's Bayelsa state, media reported on Saturday. The kidnapping happened Friday and the victims were taken from the Emakalakala town in the Ogbia council area, a few miles from their construction base, The News online reported. Two Pakistanis were also reported to be among those kidnapped. A witness, who declined to be named, said that he saw sporadic shooting in the air before the men were pulled into a waiting speed boat.

"A very intense search is on to locate and rescue (the victims)," said Anka Mustapha, spokesman for the state's joint task force, which includes the military and police. Nigeria, Africa's largest economy and leading energy producer, is one of the world's most notorious countries in terms of kidnappings, mostly in the prosperous south, where abductors are known to net millions of dollars. Kidnappings are expected to increase before the country's general election next February since some politicians fund campaigns with money acquired through criminal networks.