Foreign hostage dies in Nigeria

A foreigner taken hostage amid increased lawlessness in oil-rich southern Nigeria died of an illness Sunday while being taken to a hospital, community leaders said.

The man, whose nationality wasn't known, died after he had been released to state officials by the hostage-takers but before he reached the treatment center, said Joseph Benemiesia, a prominent community leader and member of a government team trying to calm the restive Niger Delta.

Some 150 foreigners have been taken captive this year across southern Nigeria, where the crude is pumped in Africa's biggest oil producer. About a half dozen are known to still be held.

While militants behind attacks on oil installations first targeted foreigners _ many of whom work for the oil industry _ for kidnappings, it has now become a common criminal practice, and Nigerians, too, have been taken captive.

Hostages are rarely harmed by their captors and are usually released after a ransom has been paid, although two other foreigners died in gunfights between their captors and security forces. Many released abductees say they contracted malaria while in captivity.