AP News, April 4th, 2007
Kidnappers on Wednesday released two foreign oil workers abducted in Nigeria's restive southern oil region.
The Dutch and British nationals were freed in southern Bayelsa state and were in "very good health," said Godknows Igali, a government official who helped mediate their release. He spoke by telephone from the region.
Igali said criminals, not militants battling government troops, were responsible for the kidnappings.
The British Embassy confirmed the release of its citizen. The Dutch Embassy was not immediately reachable for comment.
Gunmen in speedboats seized the British oil worker Saturday from an oil rig off Nigeria's impoverished Niger River delta region. The Dutch man was taken at gunpoint from his company compound.
Two Lebanese and two Chinese remain in captivity after a yearlong period that has seen more than 150 foreigners kidnapped _ including more than 70 since the beginning of 2007 alone.
Some of the kidnappers make political demands, including the release of an ex-governor on trial for corruption and a former militant leader charged with treason. Other gangs demand large cash payments. Most kidnapped foreigners are released unharmed.
Many of the groups have protection from local politicians who are suspected of using them as hired labor to help rig elections scheduled for next month.
Though Nigeria's oil wealth generates tens of billions of dollars every year, the majority of Nigerians are poor. Throughout the delta region, poor villagers without access to clean water or electricity exist beside multimillion-dollar oil installations.
Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, is also rated one of the most corrupt countries in the world by Berlin-based watchdog Transparency International.
