Nigerian militants release 8 hostages

YENAGOA, Nigeria – Nigerian militants on Sunday released eight foreign oil rig workers, who looked tired but unharmed after two days in captivity.

Police involved in negotiating the release of the six Britons, one American and one Canadian would not say whether a ransom was paid.

Two of the Britons were released before dawn, followed by the six remaining hostages later in the day. The eight met with a local governor and were handed over to a representative of Nigerian oil firm Peak Petroleum in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa state.

The eight, whose names have not been released, looked tired but cheerful and said they were treated well by their kidnappers.

They were flown to the city of Lagos and were expected to soon head home, Bayelsa state spokesman Ekiyor Welson said.

The workers were kidnapped Friday from the offshore platform 40 miles from Nigeria’s southeastern coast by a group of unidentified militants demanding jobs and money.