Two hostages freed in Nigerian delta -Shell

ABUJA, July 11 (Reuters) Two Nigerians working for Royal Dutch Shell were freed today in the Niger Delta five days after they were kidnapped, a spokesman for the Nigerian arm of Shell said.

The two workers were seized on Saturday during an attack on a team repairing a pipeline near the town of Buguma in Rivers state.

Kidnappings are extremely frequent in the Niger Delta. Some are carried out by rebel groups seeking to press their demand for local control of oil revenues, but most are the work of ransom seekers.

At least 16 foreign hostages are currently being held by various armed groups in the region.

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