An oil rig was attacked off Nigeria early Monday and five crew members are believed to have been taken hostage, the company that oversees the rig, Afren PLC (AFR.LN, said in a statement.

"A security breach has occurred on the High Island VII jackup rig, which had recently arrived on location, preparing to commence infill drilling at the Okoro field," the statement said.

"Two crew members are stable after receiving wounds to the leg, and have been evacuated by helicopter to a shore-based clinic. It is believed that five crew members have been taken hostage."

It added that a second "security breach" occurred at a support vessel, but didn't provide details. The statement said "the vessel and rig are both under the control of the company."

The Okoro field is 12 kilometers off the coast off Nigeria 's Akwa Ibom state. Afren is headquartered in the U.K. and works with a local partner, AMNI International.

Nigerian security officials couldn't immediately provide details on the attack, the latest to occur in the Niger Delta region, the heart of the country's oil industry.
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