ONITSHA, Nigeria, April 8 (Reuters) - An Italian construction worker has been kidnapped in southeastern Nigeria, police said on Wednesday.

Ebonyi state Police Commissioner Emmanuel Udoji told Reuters the man was working for a construction firm on a state government contract when he was abducted in the state capital.

"He was kidnapped at Abakaliki while on the way to the project site," Udoji said, adding that there had been no contact from the kidnappers.

Abductions are common in the creeks of the Niger Delta, the heartland of Nigeria's oil and gas industry to the south of Ebonyi state, but comparatively rare elsewhere.

More than 200 foreigners have been seized in recent years in the delta. Most have been freed unharmed after a ransom payment.

(For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com/) (Reporting by Anamesere Igboeroteonwu; Editing by Nick Tattersall)

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