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Abducted Britons freed in Nigeria | Abducted Britons freed in Nigeria |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Three Britons and a Colombian kidnapped last week in Nigeria's Delta region have been freed, local police say. | Three Britons and a Colombian kidnapped last week in Nigeria's Delta region have been freed, local police say. |
Gunmen snatched the group, who were working for oil giant Shell, near the city of Port Harcourt last Tuesday, killing a Nigerian guard. | Gunmen snatched the group, who were working for oil giant Shell, near the city of Port Harcourt last Tuesday, killing a Nigerian guard. |
A police spokeswoman told the AFP news agency all four were "looking okay" but did not say if a ransom had been paid. | |
The oil-producing region is notorious for kidnappings by militants, who demand a greater share of its wealth. | The oil-producing region is notorious for kidnappings by militants, who demand a greater share of its wealth. |
But the Delta has been relatively calm since most major militant groups agreed to lay down their arms last year after the government offered an amnesty. | But the Delta has been relatively calm since most major militant groups agreed to lay down their arms last year after the government offered an amnesty. |
But the BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos says that with President Umaru Yar'Adua in a hospital in Saudi Arabia, no-one has been steering the amnesty process. | |
Many militants say the government has not fulfilled its promises. Our correspondent says there are signs that the hard-won lull in violence is now under strain. | |
Shot dead | Shot dead |
"All kidnapped victims - the three Britons and the Colombian - have been released this evening," Nigerian police spokeswoman Rita Abbey was quoted as saying by AFP. | "All kidnapped victims - the three Britons and the Colombian - have been released this evening," Nigerian police spokeswoman Rita Abbey was quoted as saying by AFP. |
Militants say they are fighting for the rights of local people | Militants say they are fighting for the rights of local people |
The four workers have not been identified. | The four workers have not been identified. |
They were attacked by unidentified gunmen last Tuesday morning as they made their way to work at a power plant, police said. | They were attacked by unidentified gunmen last Tuesday morning as they made their way to work at a power plant, police said. |
Their police escort was shot dead and the driver was also believed to have been shot. | Their police escort was shot dead and the driver was also believed to have been shot. |
A police search in and around the town of Aba, some 30 miles (50km) north-east of Port Harcourt, followed. | A police search in and around the town of Aba, some 30 miles (50km) north-east of Port Harcourt, followed. |
At the time, Shell expressed concern for the safety of its contractor staff. | At the time, Shell expressed concern for the safety of its contractor staff. |
The Foreign Office said it was aware of the reports the men had been freed and was making inquiries. | The Foreign Office said it was aware of the reports the men had been freed and was making inquiries. |
The gunmen had reportedly demanded nearly $2m (£1.2m) for the release of the foreigners. | The gunmen had reportedly demanded nearly $2m (£1.2m) for the release of the foreigners. |
This was the first violent attack on foreigners in the region for almost two years. | |
Militants in the Niger Delta have cost Nigeria's oil industry millions of dollars over the years. | Militants in the Niger Delta have cost Nigeria's oil industry millions of dollars over the years. |
A variety of groups have claimed to be fighting for the rights of local people to gain a greater share of the region's wealth. | A variety of groups have claimed to be fighting for the rights of local people to gain a greater share of the region's wealth. |
But in reality, many of the groups have stolen oil from pipelines and extracted ransoms from kidnaps, using the money to arm themselves and finance more attacks. | But in reality, many of the groups have stolen oil from pipelines and extracted ransoms from kidnaps, using the money to arm themselves and finance more attacks. |
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