This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/8007669.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Family's joy as UK hostage freed | Family's joy as UK hostage freed |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The family of a British man held hostage in Nigeria for more than six months said they were "elated" to hear his voice again after he was released. | The family of a British man held hostage in Nigeria for more than six months said they were "elated" to hear his voice again after he was released. |
| Robin Hughes, 59, of St Margaret's Bay, Kent, was handed over to the military in Nigeria's southern oil region. | Robin Hughes, 59, of St Margaret's Bay, Kent, was handed over to the military in Nigeria's southern oil region. |
| He had been held by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) since September. | He had been held by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) since September. |
| Simon Hughes, 48, from Warninglid, West Sussex, said his brother "seemed fine and a bit overwhelmed... but quite ok". | Simon Hughes, 48, from Warninglid, West Sussex, said his brother "seemed fine and a bit overwhelmed... but quite ok". |
| He said the seven months he had been held captive had felt like "seven years", but he was "elated" to hear his brother's voice again following hours of rumour about whether or not he would be released. | He said the seven months he had been held captive had felt like "seven years", but he was "elated" to hear his brother's voice again following hours of rumour about whether or not he would be released. |
| Simon Hughes says his brother Robin is in good spirits | Simon Hughes says his brother Robin is in good spirits |
| Mr Hughes, who was among 27 oil workers kidnapped by militants when their oil supply vessel was hijacked on 9 September, was taken to hospital after his release. | Mr Hughes, who was among 27 oil workers kidnapped by militants when their oil supply vessel was hijacked on 9 September, was taken to hospital after his release. |
| It is believed his captors freed him because of his apparent ill health. | It is believed his captors freed him because of his apparent ill health. |
| However, it is not yet known when he will return to the UK, as he lives in Brazil with his wife and 16-year-old daughter. | However, it is not yet known when he will return to the UK, as he lives in Brazil with his wife and 16-year-old daughter. |
| Another brother, Mark Hughes, 53, said he was in a hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where he was in good spirits. | |
| 'Tinged with sadness' | 'Tinged with sadness' |
| "We're going to open a bottle of champagne," he said. | "We're going to open a bottle of champagne," he said. |
| He added the family's feelings were "tinged with a slight bit of sadness" over the uncertainty of a second British hostage, Matthew Maguire, from Birkenhead, Merseyside. | He added the family's feelings were "tinged with a slight bit of sadness" over the uncertainty of a second British hostage, Matthew Maguire, from Birkenhead, Merseyside. |
| Photographs of Mr Hughes and Mr Maguire were released in January, showing them looking dishevelled but uninjured in a forest clearing. | Photographs of Mr Hughes and Mr Maguire were released in January, showing them looking dishevelled but uninjured in a forest clearing. |
| The group said they would not be released until the Nigerian government frees the group's leader, Henry Okah, who is currently being tried on charges of arms trafficking. | The group said they would not be released until the Nigerian government frees the group's leader, Henry Okah, who is currently being tried on charges of arms trafficking. |
| Kidnapping is common in the Niger Delta by armed groups trying to force the government to share oil revenue. | Kidnapping is common in the Niger Delta by armed groups trying to force the government to share oil revenue. |
| Most of the 27 people captured in the September incident have already been released. | Most of the 27 people captured in the September incident have already been released. |