LAGOS, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Armed men raided an offshore oil rig in Nigeria's southern oil region Wednesday afternoon, taking one security guard, who is a retired navy officer, as hostage, said the Nigerian navy Thursday.

    The gunmen told the attacked Nigerian company Consolidated Oil that they came from nearby Sangana community, accusing the company of failing to implement an agreement, which promised them jobs, said a spokesman for the navy.

    Attacks on offshore rigs have frequently taken place in the oil-rich Niger Delta, where local people demand compensation from the oil companies for polluting the environment.

    Just about one month ago, six Britons, one American and a Canadian were kidnapped in a night-time raid on an oil rig 64 km off the coast. They were later released. Enditem