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/uk/8098241.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UK oil worker 'freed' in Nigeria | UK oil worker 'freed' in Nigeria |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Reports a Briton held hostage in the southern Nigerian swamps has been released are being investigated by British officials. | |
| Militants have handed over oil worker Matthew Maguire to the Nigerian government, according to reports. | Militants have handed over oil worker Matthew Maguire to the Nigerian government, according to reports. |
| Mr Maguire, of Merseyside, was one of 27 hostages taken from a boat off the coast of Port Harcourt last September. | |
| The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) have since released the other hostages. | The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) have since released the other hostages. |
| In an email from Mend, it was claimed that Mr Maguire was released at a secret location and is now in Port Harcourt. | In an email from Mend, it was claimed that Mr Maguire was released at a secret location and is now in Port Harcourt. |
| A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: "We are looking into the reports but we cannot confirm anything right now." | A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: "We are looking into the reports but we cannot confirm anything right now." |
| British hostage Robin Hughes, taken from the same boat as Mr Maguire, was released in April because he had fallen sick. The other hostages were released within days. | British hostage Robin Hughes, taken from the same boat as Mr Maguire, was released in April because he had fallen sick. The other hostages were released within days. |
| Hundreds of foreign oil and construction workers - and many more Nigerians - have been kidnapped by militants since 2006. | Hundreds of foreign oil and construction workers - and many more Nigerians - have been kidnapped by militants since 2006. |
| Militants who say they are fighting for a better deal from Nigeria's oil revenue, fund their groups with kidnapping, extortion and oil theft. | Militants who say they are fighting for a better deal from Nigeria's oil revenue, fund their groups with kidnapping, extortion and oil theft. |
| Corruption and poor governance in the region has allowed militant groups to flourish, activists say. | Corruption and poor governance in the region has allowed militant groups to flourish, activists say. |