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Oil workers hope to return soon Hostage wife speaks of her relief
(about 7 hours later)
Four Scottish oil workers who were released after almost three weeks as hostages in Nigeria could return home as early as Sunday evening. The wife of a kidnapped oil worker who had been feared dead has spoken of her relief following his release.
SNP MP Alex Salmond has been in contact with the families of two of the men from his Banff and Buchan constituency. Paula Smith, whose husband Paul was one of four Scots held hostage in Nigeria, told how she had to explain the conflicting news to their young son.
Paul Smith and Graeme Buchan have been passed as fit to travel and hope to be back with their families soon. She said she used the analogy of Disney's Lion King to explain the death to four-year-old Jordan but later had to say it had all been lies.
George Mclean, from Elgin, and Sandy Cruden, from Inverurie, were the other two Scots among the seven hostages. Mrs Smith revealed that her husband told her he would be home on Monday.
'Erroneous information' Mr Smith, from Peterhead, Graeme Buchan, from Stewartfield, George Mclean, from Elgin and Sandy Cruden, from Inverurie, were released after almost three weeks as hostages on the Niger Delta.
Mr Salmond told BBC Scotland's Sunday Live the news that Mr Smith, from Peterhead, and Mr Buchan, were safe was a "tremendous happy ending to an agonising time for the families". I couldn't believe it. When I heard his voice I said 'Paul, tell me it's you' Paula Smith
He said Mr Smith's wife Paula had been told on Thursday that her husband was dead. They were kidnapped along with another three oil workers from Romania, Malaysia and Indonesia.
"The working assumption was that Paul had died on Thursday morning and that was the best information the authorities had at the time," Mr Salmond said. At a press conference Mrs Smith, who also has a two-year-old son, said that on Thursday she had been made aware of a telephone conversation in which it was claimed her husband was dead.
"That turned out to be erroneous information. It was obviously a ploy by the kidnappers to force the issue to a head. It does mean that this family has spent two days believing that Paul was dead." "It was absolutely horrendous," she said. "We had tried to keep things from the kids but the minute we heard he was dead I had to tell Jordan.
Mr Salmond said Mr Smith had been dubbed "Lazarus" in Peterhead. "I just told him about the Lion King when the dad dies but is up in heaven and that his dad would always be looking down on him.
The Scottish men, who were employed by Aberdeen-based Sparrow Offshore, were taken hostage at gunpoint along with a Romanian, a Malaysian and an Indonesian. "He just cuddled into me."
They were kidnapped on 3 October at Nancy's Bar in the compound in Eket, in Akwa Ibom state on the Niger Delta. Phone call
The men have now been sent to Port Harcourt in neighbouring Rivers state to be released to their various companies. Two days later she received a phone call from her husband.
"I couldn't believe it," she said. "When I heard his voice I said 'Paul, tell me it's you'. He had to keep talking to me. I was hysterical.
"He said 'it's me. Calm down. I've been released'.
"I told him I'd been told he was dead and had told the kids and he said 'I'm here and I'm released and I'll be home in two days'.
"It was unbelievable. We had been grieving about him in the morning and going over memories. It was unbelievable, unbelievable."
Over the last two weeks we have felt worry, grief and finally elation John Smith
Mrs Smith said she had answered the phone herself for the first time in two days.
"I'm so glad it was me," she said.
She then had to explain the turnaround of events to Jordan.
"I had to tell him it was lies, that his dad will be home. How do you tell a four-year-old?"
Mrs Smith added that there was "no way" she would allow her husband to return to Nigeria.
Mr Smith's father John, said: "Over the last two weeks we have felt worry, grief and finally elation.
"Many people have experienced the first two but it's not often you get the third one in a situation like this and for that we are very thankful."
In a statement read out by SNP leader Alex Salmond, who represents the Banff and Buchan area, Mr Buchan's wife Lynsey said: "I would like to say how relieved and delighted I am that all the men are released and look forward enormously to their homecoming.
"It's been a very traumatic time for family and friends and everyone is looking forward to seeing Graeme again."