Two Indian hostages freed in Nigerian oil delta

Lagos, June 26: Two Indian hostages taken at gunpoint in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta were released after 10 days in captivity, the head of the military in the region said.

The two men, abducted near the town of Sapele on June 15, were handed over to officials of Delta state government, yesterday.

''They are okay. They are coming into our custody,'' said Brigadier-General Lawrence Ngubane, who commands a joint task force in the restive wetlands region.

Authorities originally reported that the two hostages were Lebanese employees of a construction company, but later said they were Indians working in agriculture.

Militants fighting for regional control over the delta's oil wealth have stepped up a campaign of bombings and kidnappings in Africa's top oil producer, but the region is lawless and most abductions are motivated by money.

Reuters>