Nigeria: Agip’s Plan to Help Hostages Escape Fails

Italian oil company Agip failed to help hostages taken by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) escape, MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo said on Wednesday.

In an email to media, Gbomo said the militant group “discovered an outrageous attempt by Agip to arrange the escape of the prisoners” in its custody on Tuesday.

He added that Agip tried to pay 70 million naira (about US$555,500) to
those supposed to be guarding the hostages whom are to be guided to a point where a boat was to be stationed to take them out of the creeks.

“A middleman brought 70 million naira to one of our camps where the attempt was immediately reported,” he said, adding that “the money has been confiscated and will be put to better use.”

The militant group spokesman also warned Agip against any actions aimed at helping the hostages escape, saying that such actions “may endanger the lives of the hostages.”

Xinhua