Indian hostage in Nigeria not ill treated : MEA

New Delhi, May 13 (UNI): The Indian worker who was taken hostage in Nigeria's oil capital Port Harcourt was not "mistreated" during his day-long capitivity, the Ministry of External Affairs said today.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed said that the Indian, identified as Mammen, was released yesterday by a local militia group after a day in captivity.

He said this was confirmed by Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria H H S Viswanathan.

Mr Ahamed said Mammen's employer M/S SAIPEM had also helped for the safe release of Mammen.

"Our High Commissioner is in contact with Mr Mammen and he is happy," Mr Ahamed said, adding that "he was not mistreated by his kidnappers." "Mammen expressed his gratitude for the immediate action taken by the Ministry of External Affairs and the High Commission," he said.

Gunmen had abducted three oil workers, including Mammen, as they travelled in their car on Thursday in Port Harcourt, the largest city in the Niger Delta, where the offices of the leading oil companies operating in Nigeria are located.

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