**Militants in Nigeria say they have seized a ship carrying chemicals and are holding the crew of six.**A statement from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said the Sichem Peace had been captured near the Escravos oil base.
It said the crew comprised three Russians, two Filipinos and an Indian. The ship, built in 2005, sails under the flag of Singapore.
There has been no independent confirmation of the Mend statement.
Escravos is one of Nigeria’s main oil complexes, including a gas-to-liquids project and export terminal.
Earlier, Mend said it had blown up a major oil pipeline, belonging to US firm Chevron.
The statement has not been verified and there has been no response from Chevron.