(S (S (BASENP (DT The) (JJ oil-rich) (NNP Niger) (NNP Delta) (NN region)) (VP (VBZ has) (VP (VP (VBN witnessed) (NP (BASENP (DT a) (NN spate)) (PP (IN of) (BASENP (NNS kidnappings))))) (ADVP (RB recently))))) (PERIOD .))