Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 11 -– Most hostages taken Oct. 10 from a Royal Dutch Shell PLC facility in southern Nigeria have been released, authorities said Oct. 11, adding that a further 8 workers are due to be set free later in the day.
Around 60 oil workers were seized when attackers wielding automatic rifles occupied the Shell facility at Oproma in Bayelsa state after overrunning the nearby navy base. The attackers initially demanded that Shell tackle erosion problems, in addition to supplying electrical light and water to the community.
Hafiz Ringim, the police commissioner for Bayelsa state, said an agreement had been reached between the government and militant leaders following discussions on Oct 10. He did not detail the conditions that had been agreed.
News of the release came as senior security officials in Nigeria said they were laying down strategies to limit the impact of militant attacks in the oil-producing delta.
The officials met after militants claimed to have killed 30 members of the armed forces in gun battles with government gunboats and attack helicopters in the creeks of the eastern Niger Delta last week.
Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].
