ABUJA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - A Dutchman was found dead at his home in the southern Nigerian city of Port Harcourt on Sunday with a note from his suspected killers on his body, a police spokeswoman said.
The note said that the man had been given $50,000 to import cars and had not delivered, said Ireju Barasua, police spokeswoman for Rivers state where Port Harcourt is located. She said police were investigating.
Dutch embassy officials could not be reached for comment.
Port Harcourt, the main city in the oil producing Niger Delta, has become increasingly dangerous since early 2006, when armed rebels launched a wave of attacks on the oil industry.
At first the rebels targeted oil production facilities and also kidnapped foreign oil workers to press their demands for local control over oil revenues and an end to neglect of the impoverished delta.
But over time the violence spiralled into an uncontrollable crime wave, with copy-cat kidnappers snatching hostages for ransom, gangs fighting bloody street battles and armed robberies multiplying.
Port Harcourt has been particularly hard-hit. The city is under a night curfew after clashes involving rival gangs and troops killed dozens of people in August.
More than 200 foreigners have been taken hostage since early last year. Most of them were released unharmed in exchange for money, but at least four are still in captivity.
Assassinations of foreigners are rare but not unheard of. Last year an American was gunned down in his car in Port Harcourt by killers on motorbikes.
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