The main militant group in Nigeria said on Thursday that two German workers kidnapped more than a month ago will be freed, and it rescinded a threat against the construction company that employed the men.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said in an email that its fighters raided the camp where the two Germans were being held and rescued the pair. The militant group said the two, kidnapped on July 11, will be given their freedom shortly.
Officials could not be reached at the German embassy in Nigeria or at the headquarters of the local affiliate of German construction giant Bilfinger Berger that employed the duo. Law-enforcement officials could not immediately confirm any release of the hostages.
The militants earlier said they would aid in the release of the hostages, but later threatened to target the Germans’ company across Nigeria after the firm withdrew its services in the southern oil region due to insecurity.
But the militants said on Thursday that the threat against the German company had been a ruse to put the criminals off their guard, allowing for the Germans’ rescue. The militants said one of the Germans suffered spinal injuries when the pair were snatched from their compound in the southern Niger Delta region.
More than 150 foreign workers have been kidnapped since militants stepped up their activities in early 2006. While the militants started the kidnappings as a source of pressure on the federal government to send more oil-industry resources to the southern region where the crude is pumped, gangs with purely criminal intent quickly joined the racket.
Hostages are rarely harmed in Nigeria, although at least two died in botched abduction or rescue attempts.
The militants’ activities, including bombings of oil pipelines, have trimmed nearly one-quarter of the usual daily oil production from Africa’s biggest industry. That has helped send oil prices to historical highs. — Sapa-AP