afrol News - SA hostages freed in Niger Delta

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Nigeria | South Africa
Society | Politics | Human rights
SA hostages freed in Niger Delta

afrol News, 22 September - Two South Africans held hostage by Nigeria's main militant group for ten days have been freed, SA officials confirmed.

Captives, Dan Laarman and Robert Berrie with three other international oil workers, including two Britons and one Ukrainian were taken hostage on 9 September, when their vessel was captured by unknown gunmen.

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said it handed over the two to government secret service agents and expected them to be presented to South African government officials in Port Harcourt.

"Duo was handed over to government secret service officials at 11 pm on Thursday night, who will in turn hand them over to representatives of South African high commission," said Jomo Gbomo a spokesperson MEND.

Mr Laarman was in Nigeria on a month-long contract with Hydrodive Nigeria to work on Chevron oil rigs.

Release of two south Africans was confirmed by South African high commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Stix Sifingo, said Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, expressed appreciation on behalf of her government to Nigerian authorities for helping to bring about a resolution to the matter.

Militant groups attack oil installations and kidnap expatriate workers, saying they are fighting for a greater share of profits from oil exploitation for the poor.

Mr Laarman's parents, Will and Ingrid, said on Friday when they received the news from their Cosmos home on Hartbeespoort Dam near Pretoria they were overjoyed. "When I heard Dan's voice over the phone on Friday afternoon, it felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. It was a very emotional experience for me," Ingrid said.

Meanwhile MEND said it rescued 27 hostages from group that had been kidnapped but would hold on to 25 remaining hostages, until Henry Okah who is the leader and was released from prison.

However two South Africans were released because Mr Okah's wife, who lives in South Africa, said South African government treated her and her children well.

Last month two German hostages employed by a local unit of Manheim based construction company Bilfinger Berger were also set free by militants group after they were abducted by kidnappers.