Nigerian militants release 6 oil workers

Militants in southern Nigeria released six oil workers taken hostage by a group demanding $20 million from Shell for local communities…

Militants in southern Nigeria released six oil workers taken hostage by a group demanding $20 million from Shell for local communities.

A group called the Iduwuni National Union for Peace and Development had claimed responsibility for kidnapping the two German and four Nigerian workers subcontracted to Shell, demanding the company pay the money as compensation for pollution and environmental degradation due to oil activities.

"They were released unconditionally," said Preye Wariowei, a spokesman for the Nigerian state of Bayelsa, where the workers were seized by gunmen on Wednesday. He said the two Germans were now in the care of their direct employer, the German firm Bilfinger Berger.

Wariowei said the hostages were unharmed. In Berlin, a Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed the release yesterday of the two Germans but would not provide further details.

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Shell has said the Iduwuni were also dissatisfied with the company's efforts to deliver promised jobs and amenities to nine communities bordering a key offshore oil field in Africa's largest oil producer.

Shell has acknowledged it agreed to provide the communities with development assistance, but said finding the funding for the projects had caused delays.

Wariowei would not comment on whether authorities would try to bring the hostage-takers to justice.

Criminals frequently hit oil operations in the Niger delta by taking hostages and sabotage. Most captives are eventually released unharmed.

Nigeria exports some 2.5 million barrels of oil daily, making it the world's seventh-leading exporter and the fifth-biggest source of US oil imports.

AP