American among hostages freed in Nigeria

LAGOS, Nigeria – Kidnappers freed six foreigners Wednesday, including an American boat captain, abducted from a nightclub in Nigeria’s southern oil region, the government said.

The six men were set free in the Port Harcourt area, the focus of a series of kidnapping in recent weeks, said Rivers state government spokesman Magnus Abe.

Militants opposed to Nigeria’s oil policies are suspected in the abductions, but Abe said he couldn’t confirm who carried them out.

The six were captured 10 days ago by armed men who attacked the nightclub in the center Nigeria’s oil hub of Port Harcourt, shooting into the air and sending scores of people rushing for cover. Officials said no one was injured in the incident.

AP