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Nigeria kidnappers free UK girl Nigeria kidnappers free UK girl
(about 4 hours later)
A three-year-old British girl has been reunited with her parents after being freed by kidnappers in southern Nigeria who had held her for four days.A three-year-old British girl has been reunited with her parents after being freed by kidnappers in southern Nigeria who had held her for four days.
Margaret Hill's parents, Mike and Oluchi Hill, said she was in good health but "covered in mosquito bites".Margaret Hill's parents, Mike and Oluchi Hill, said she was in good health but "covered in mosquito bites".
The kidnappers had threatened to kill the girl unless a ransom was paid or Briton Mr Hill took her place. The oil worker said no ransom had been paid.The kidnappers had threatened to kill the girl unless a ransom was paid or Briton Mr Hill took her place. The oil worker said no ransom had been paid.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was "delighted" at the release.UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was "delighted" at the release.
Mr Hill told Sky News that his daughter had returned "in a little bit of a trance", but soon began coming back to life and talking to her mother. Mr Hill told the BBC that, despite being held in a hut and bitten by mosquitoes, his daughter was "very active, not much worse for wear".
The child had been held "in the bush... in some sort of hut", he said. Mr and Mrs Hill have no plans to leave Nigeria
I was trying to comfort my wife and she was waking up crying Mike Hill "I don't think she had much to eat because she is hungry now." He said he would stay in Nigeria for the time being but that it was time for a holiday.
Describing the couple's ordeal since their daughter's kidnap on Thursday, Mr Hill said: "The pressure is unbelievable, it's difficult to explain. You stop eating and can't think of anything else. You are just worrying all the time. "I live here and I work here and I've been in Africa since 1973," he said.
"I was trying to comfort my wife and she was waking up crying." "Just because people get mad, they kidnap the children. It's very worrying but things have got to get better - they can't get worse.
"If it frightens everybody away, the whole country will be empty."
Mr Miliband said: "I am grateful to the Nigerian authorities for all their help and I hope the perpetrators will be swiftly brought to justice."Mr Miliband said: "I am grateful to the Nigerian authorities for all their help and I hope the perpetrators will be swiftly brought to justice."
A Foreign Office spokesman said Margaret was due to have a check-up with a doctor on Monday morning.A Foreign Office spokesman said Margaret was due to have a check-up with a doctor on Monday morning.
Immense pressureImmense pressure
Margaret was snatched when gunmen smashed the window of a car driving her to school in Port Harcourt as it stood in traffic.Margaret was snatched when gunmen smashed the window of a car driving her to school in Port Harcourt as it stood in traffic.
The car's driver was stabbed as he tried to protect the girl.The car's driver was stabbed as he tried to protect the girl.
Her Nigerian mother, Oluchi Hill, later said the abductors had contacted her and demanded an unspecified ransom for Margaret's release.Her Nigerian mother, Oluchi Hill, later said the abductors had contacted her and demanded an unspecified ransom for Margaret's release.
The kidnappers had vowed to kill the girl unless her father, a British expatriate oil worker originally from Murton in County Durham, took her place.The kidnappers had vowed to kill the girl unless her father, a British expatriate oil worker originally from Murton in County Durham, took her place.
Mr Hill also runs a bar in Port Harcourt.Mr Hill also runs a bar in Port Harcourt.
Kidnapping has become the norm in the oil-rich but impoverished Niger delta region, the BBC's Alex Last says, but this time there was immense pressure on her captors.Kidnapping has become the norm in the oil-rich but impoverished Niger delta region, the BBC's Alex Last says, but this time there was immense pressure on her captors.
The President of Nigeria, Umaru Yar'Adua, called for the girl's release, and the region's main militant group - the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) - offered to help find her.The President of Nigeria, Umaru Yar'Adua, called for the girl's release, and the region's main militant group - the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) - offered to help find her.
Our correspondent says more than 200 hostages have been taken by armed groups in the last 18 months in Nigeria, but none has ever been killed.Our correspondent says more than 200 hostages have been taken by armed groups in the last 18 months in Nigeria, but none has ever been killed.
Margaret was the third child to be kidnapped in the last six weeks.Margaret was the third child to be kidnapped in the last six weeks.
The daughter of a Nigerian businessman and a local state legislator's daughter were both eventually released unharmed after ransom payments.The daughter of a Nigerian businessman and a local state legislator's daughter were both eventually released unharmed after ransom payments.