Post by Papa C. on Mar 27, 2006 13:45:50 GMT
Nigerian Militants Release Last Hostages
By OSMOND CHIDI, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 20 minutes ago
WARRI, Nigeria - Militants demanding control of revenues from Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta released their last remaining foreign hostages on Monday — two Americans and a Briton — but the group threatened to continue attacks on oil installations.
Abel Oshevire, spokesman for the southern Delta state government, said Americans Cody Oswalt and Russell Spell and Briton John Hudspith were released just before dawn after more than five weeks in captivity.
"They are here with us now and are all in good health," Oshevire told reporters.
The militants, responsible for a wave of recent attacks in southern Nigeria, took nine foreign oil workers hostage Feb. 18 from a barge owned by Willbros Group Inc., the Houston-based oil services company that was laying pipeline in the delta for Royal Dutch Shell. The group released six of the captives after 12 days.
The last three hostages could be seen from a distance as they greeted officials, but the freed men did not immediately address reporters.
The militants have targeted the oil industry in the world's eighth-largest producer of crude and the fifth largest supplier to the United States, blowing up oil installations and cutting production by 20 percent.
Crude-oil prices slipped under $64 a barrel Monday after the release of the hostages eased concerns about supplies. But the volatile Nigerian situation — and nagging worries about
Iran — were expected to keep a tight floor under prices.
Since the attacks began, Royal Dutch Shell has closed half its oil fields and one of its two main loading terminals. Despite the danger, however, oil companies remain drawn to the country because its benchmark Bonnie Light is so easily — and inexpensively — extracted, and is of high quality.
The militants warned that the release of the hostages did not mean an end to attacks: "The keeping of hostages is a distraction to us," the group wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
In a general news release, the group said it had better uses for what it claimed were 800 fighters needed to take care of the hostages — namely more attacks on oil facilities.
The e-mail to AP said the hostages were released at the request of local communities who had welcomed the militants after the Nigerian military launched attacks on Delta communities accused of stealing oil. The military has withdrawn and the commander who ordered the assaults has left the area.
The group also said the government had met none of its demands for the release of the hostages, which included the release two arrested leaders of the Ijaw tribe and payment by Royal Dutch Shell of $1.5 billion to compensate Ijaw communities for oil pollution — a demand that has also come from Nigerian lawmakers.
"Our ultimate aim is the control of the resources of the Niger Delta by its people," said the message to the AP.
Residents of the Delta, the source of the oil that provides 95 percent of government revenue, remain among the poorest in Nigeria. The area has few roads, clinics, schools or landline telephones. Most villagers live without clean water or electricity but must suffer from gas flares that have not stopped nearly 50 years after the start of oil production that has polluted creeks and agricultural land with frequent spills.
Foreign oil workers are frequently taken hostage in Nigeria, and most are released unharmed.
Gov. Ibori said no ransom was paid but added: "Now that they have been released, the pertinent issues raised by the youths on the Niger Delta condition will have to be addressed."
Ref: news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060327/ap_on_re_af/nigeria_oil_unrest
By OSMOND CHIDI, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 20 minutes ago
WARRI, Nigeria - Militants demanding control of revenues from Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta released their last remaining foreign hostages on Monday — two Americans and a Briton — but the group threatened to continue attacks on oil installations.
Abel Oshevire, spokesman for the southern Delta state government, said Americans Cody Oswalt and Russell Spell and Briton John Hudspith were released just before dawn after more than five weeks in captivity.
"They are here with us now and are all in good health," Oshevire told reporters.
The militants, responsible for a wave of recent attacks in southern Nigeria, took nine foreign oil workers hostage Feb. 18 from a barge owned by Willbros Group Inc., the Houston-based oil services company that was laying pipeline in the delta for Royal Dutch Shell. The group released six of the captives after 12 days.
The last three hostages could be seen from a distance as they greeted officials, but the freed men did not immediately address reporters.
The militants have targeted the oil industry in the world's eighth-largest producer of crude and the fifth largest supplier to the United States, blowing up oil installations and cutting production by 20 percent.
Crude-oil prices slipped under $64 a barrel Monday after the release of the hostages eased concerns about supplies. But the volatile Nigerian situation — and nagging worries about
Iran — were expected to keep a tight floor under prices.
Since the attacks began, Royal Dutch Shell has closed half its oil fields and one of its two main loading terminals. Despite the danger, however, oil companies remain drawn to the country because its benchmark Bonnie Light is so easily — and inexpensively — extracted, and is of high quality.
The militants warned that the release of the hostages did not mean an end to attacks: "The keeping of hostages is a distraction to us," the group wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
In a general news release, the group said it had better uses for what it claimed were 800 fighters needed to take care of the hostages — namely more attacks on oil facilities.
The e-mail to AP said the hostages were released at the request of local communities who had welcomed the militants after the Nigerian military launched attacks on Delta communities accused of stealing oil. The military has withdrawn and the commander who ordered the assaults has left the area.
The group also said the government had met none of its demands for the release of the hostages, which included the release two arrested leaders of the Ijaw tribe and payment by Royal Dutch Shell of $1.5 billion to compensate Ijaw communities for oil pollution — a demand that has also come from Nigerian lawmakers.
"Our ultimate aim is the control of the resources of the Niger Delta by its people," said the message to the AP.
Residents of the Delta, the source of the oil that provides 95 percent of government revenue, remain among the poorest in Nigeria. The area has few roads, clinics, schools or landline telephones. Most villagers live without clean water or electricity but must suffer from gas flares that have not stopped nearly 50 years after the start of oil production that has polluted creeks and agricultural land with frequent spills.
Foreign oil workers are frequently taken hostage in Nigeria, and most are released unharmed.
Gov. Ibori said no ransom was paid but added: "Now that they have been released, the pertinent issues raised by the youths on the Niger Delta condition will have to be addressed."
Ref: news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060327/ap_on_re_af/nigeria_oil_unrest
