Armed group to free SA hostages
2008-09-16 12:35
Lagos - The most prominent armed group in oil-rich southern Nigeria said on Tuesday it will release two South African hostages it rescued from pirates "at the earliest convenience".
The group said the two were among a group of 27 hostages - 22 Nigerians, the two South Africans and three people who are either British or Ukrainian - it rescued from pirates on Friday.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said it was persuaded to release the two by an appeal from Azuka Okah, wife of Henry Okah, one of the group's leaders detained in secret in the centre of Nigeria.
She argued that she and her children consider SA their home since Henry Okah's detention in September 2007 and have been well-received there.
"In consideration of the above, Mend will be ... releasing the two hostages to the care of the South African government representative at the earliest convenience after working out the modalities including safety concerns since the creek is now a war zone," the group said in an email to the media.
Mend had initially said on Saturday it was planning to hold all 27 rescued hostages as leverage for Henry Okah's release. It said some of the men had been injured when the Nigerian army attacked one of Mend's camps.