Nigeria's two main oil unions have suspended their labor strike, one day after launching the work stoppage.

Thousands of oil workers began striking Wednesday to protest violence and abductions in the country's oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Union leaders had initially called for a three-day strike. Their reasons for returning to work earlier than planned were not immediate clear.

Oil industry officials say the strike has not seriously affected Nigeria's oil production.

The unions, representing field workers and management want the government to improve safety at oil industry facilities in the Niger Delta.

On Tuesday, a gunman killed a Nigerian oil worker when they attacked a boat carrying workers affiliated with U.S. energy giant Chevron.

Niger Delta militant groups say they want local communities to get a greater share of the region's oil wealth. However, many of the recent kidnappings are believed to have been carried out strictly for ransom money.

Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer. The attacks have reduced output by some 800,000 barrels per day - nearly a third of the country's normal production.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP  and Reuters.