2007年VOA标准英语-Hostage Taking Continues Amid Spike in Gangland
时间：2019-01-07 作者：英语课 分类：2007年VOA标准英语（八月）
Lagos
10 August 2007
Gunmen seized a foreign national in Nigeria's oil city of Port Harcourt early Friday. The man, a British national, is the latest victim of kidnapping for ransom 1 in the troubled Niger Delta 2 where gangland violence and gunfights have peaked in recent days. For VOA, Sarah Simpson reports from Lagos.
A resident of Nigeria's oil-rich delta region looks at flames from an oil company's gas flare
Armed assailants stopped the car of the British oil worker on his morning drive to work, whisking him away at gunpoint.
The UK Embassy in Nigeria has confirmed the man's nationality.
The man is the latest in a long line of over 200 foreign nationals, usually connected to Nigeria's multi-billion dollar oil industry, to be taken hostage.
Victims are generally released unharmed after payment of ransom.
Despite a flurry of releases earlier this week, five foreign nationals are currently held by various armed groups operating in the turbulent wetlands of the Niger Delta where intra-gang violence has peaked.
Gun battles between criminal gangs has increased in recent days, killing 4 civilians 5 in crossfire 6, though police have not confirmed how many died.
A militant 7 struggle for an increased share of Nigeria's oil wealth to go to the impoverished 8 Niger Delta region has degenerated 9 into an untreated rash of armed robberies, kidnappings and gangland violence.
Militant groups launched a campaign of violence against the oil industry, including hostage takings of oil sector 10 workers, in early 2006.
International companies have evacuated 11 thousands of foreign nationals and their families from the region, source of Africa's largest oil exports.
The uncontrolled violence in the Niger Delta regularly forces up oil prices on international markets.
- We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
- The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。
- He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
- The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。
- The match gave a flare.火柴发出闪光。
- You need not flare up merely because I mentioned your work.你大可不必因为我提到你的工作就动怒。
- Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
- Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
- the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
- At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。
- They say they are caught in the crossfire between the education establishment and the government.他们称自己被卷进了教育机构与政府之间的争端。
- When two industrial giants clash,small companies can get caught in the crossfire.两大工业企业争斗之下，小公司遭受池鱼之殃。
- Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
- He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。
- the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
- They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The march degenerated into a riot. 示威游行变成了暴动。
- The wide paved road degenerated into a narrow bumpy track. 铺好的宽阔道路渐渐变窄，成了一条崎岖不平的小径。
- The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
- The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。