Nigerian kidnappers release 8 oil workers
{{date|June 4, 2006}}
Eight oil workers who were kidnapped from a Bulford Dolphin oil platform off the coast of [[w:Nigeria|Nigeria]] on Friday have been freed. One [[w:United States|American]], one [[w:Canada|Canadian]] and six [[w:United Kingdom|Britons]] were among those freed and were "in good health." The Movement for the Emancipation for the Niger Delta was thought to have been behind the crime, but deny any involvement or connection.

"All the hostages have been released. They are with the governor now [and are] looking very fine," said spokesman for the state of [[w:Bayelsa State|Bayelsa]] in southern Nigeria, Ekiyor Welson.

Earlier reports stated that all 8 hostages were freed, but spokespeople for the Nigerian Police later withdrew that statement and said that only 2 had been freed and talk lead to the rest of the hostages being freed. The companies that the former hostages work for have denied paying for their freedom. 

Those responsible for the kidnappings are not yet known and officials have not released the names of any of the hostages.

==Related Wikinews==
*{{wikinews|title=Oil workers kidnapped off of Nigerian oil rig|date=June 2, 2006}}
==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/stocks/QuoteCompanyNewsArticle.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2006-06-04T110527Z_01_L04735965_RTRIDST_0_NIGERIA-HOSTAGES-UPDATE-5.XML&rpc=66
|title=UPDATE 5-Nigerian kidnappers free 8 foreign oil workers
|author=Estelle Shirbon
|pub=Reuters
|date=June 4, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/06/04/unigeria.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/06/04/ixnews.html
|title=Nigerian kidnappers release British hostages
|author=
|pub=Telegraph.co.uk
|date=June 4, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aTBVImloKxbY&refer=top_world_news
|title=Nigeria Kidnappers Release Oil Workers, State Government Says
|author=
|pub=Bloomberg
|date=June 4, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-5864375,00.html
|title=Kidnappers free UK oil rig workers
|author=
|pub=Guardian Unlimited
|date=June 4, 2006}}

[[category:World]]
[[category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[category:Africa]]
[[category:Nigeria]]

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{{Archive-unreviewed}}
Eight oil workers who were kidnapped from a Bulford Dolphin oil platform off the coast of Nigeria on Friday have been freed. One American, one Canadian and six Britons were among those freed and were "in good health." The Movement for the Emancipation for the Niger Delta was thought to have been behind the crime, but deny any involvement or connection.

"All the hostages have been released. They are with the governor now and are looking very fine," said spokesman for the state of Bayelsa in southern Nigeria, Ekiyor Welson.

Earlier reports stated that all 8 hostages were freed, but spokespeople for the Nigerian Police later withdrew that statement and said that only 2 had been freed and talk lead to the rest of the hostages being freed. The companies that the former hostages work for have denied paying for their freedom. 

Those responsible for the kidnappings are not yet known and officials have not released the names of any of the hostages.

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category:World
category:Politics and conflicts
category:Africa
category:Nigeria