Unidentified gunmen attacked a tanker off the coast of West African country Nigeria on Wednesday, abducting one Romanian, according to agencies' reports.

The gunmen in speedboats launched the assault on MT Meredith on early Wednesday. The tanker was carrying 4,000 tons of oil products in the south of Nigeria when the incident occurred. A Romanian crew member was kidnapped by the gunmen, the reports said.

The tanker was reported to have been damaged severely in the attack.

The assault came after unknown gunmen operating in the oil- rich southeastern Rivers State on Sunday attacked a loading vessel, a tanker and a tug boat at a crude oil platform operated by Shell in Bonny and took eight crew members hostage.

The militants killed one person and injured the captain of the tugboat, according to The Nation newspaper on Monday.

Rita Abbey, Rivers State Police spokesperson said all those kidnapped were Nigerians, adding that they were taken aboard the vessel in Bonny. Security agents were investigating the incident.

Shell's spokesman Precious Okolobo confirmed that there has been an attack on two vessels at a Shell crude loading platform in Bonny.

"The incident occurred yesterday night and we are investigating to get more details," he added.

Shell officials said the vessels belonged to sub-contracting firms working for the Anglo-Dutch oil giant.

No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

More than 200 foreigners have been seized in the oil-producing Niger Delta since then.

(Xinhua News Agency, January 21, 2009)