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UK oil worker 'freed' in Nigeria UK oil worker freed, family says
(about 2 hours later)
Reports a Briton held hostage in the southern Nigerian swamps has been released are being investigated by British officials. A British oil worker taken hostage in the southern Nigerian swamps has been freed and is safe and well, according to his family.
Militants have handed over oil worker Matthew Maguire to the Nigerian government, according to reports. The Foreign Office has been examining reports that militants released Matthew Maguire to the Nigerian government.
Mr Maguire, of Merseyside, was one of 27 hostages taken from a boat off the coast of Port Harcourt last September.Mr Maguire, of Merseyside, was one of 27 hostages taken from a boat off the coast of Port Harcourt last September.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) have since released the other hostages. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has since released the other hostages.
In an email from Mend, it was claimed that Mr Maguire was released at a secret location and is now in Port Harcourt. In an email from the group, it had been claimed that Mr Maguire was released at a secret location and was now in Port Harcourt.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: "We are looking into the reports but we cannot confirm anything right now." The Foreign Office had been unable to confirm the reports but his father Bernard Maguire, who lives in Perth, Australia, told the BBC his son had been freed.
"Matthew's girlfriend, Emma, received a phone call from him earlier today," he said on Friday evening.
"He's out now and no harm has come to him, so it's a relief. Although he's lost weight, he's got no other health problems.
'Fantastic'
"We have been waiting a long, long time for this and we have been given so much false hope in the past."
His son was expected back in the UK on Sunday or Monday, he added.
British hostage Robin Hughes, taken from the same boat as Mr Maguire, was released in April because he had fallen sick. The other hostages were released within days.British hostage Robin Hughes, taken from the same boat as Mr Maguire, was released in April because he had fallen sick. The other hostages were released within days.
Hundreds of foreign oil and construction workers - and many more Nigerians - have been kidnapped by militants since 2006.Hundreds of foreign oil and construction workers - and many more Nigerians - have been kidnapped by militants since 2006.
Militants who say they are fighting for a better deal from Nigeria's oil revenue, fund their groups with kidnapping, extortion and oil theft. Militants, who say they are fighting for a better share-out of Nigeria's oil revenue, fund their groups with kidnapping, extortion and oil theft.
Corruption and poor governance in the region has allowed militant groups to flourish, activists say.