A Nigerian militant group on Monday night said it had directed the immediate release of an Italian hostage abducted last Thursday,
In an e-mail to public media, Jomo Gbomo, a self-described spokesman for the self-styled Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), said: “We have today (Monday) directed the immediate and unconditional release of the Italian worker contracted to Saipem who was abducted on Thursday Aug. 24, 2006.”
Gbomo said “this release will be effected any moment from now,” adding that groups in the Niger Delta had been advised to steer clear of kidnappings for ransom, piracy and robberies as such acts would no longer be tolerated.
“We understand the desire of all such groups in the delta to contribute to the struggle but will not accept such negative contributions that put the genuine agitation of the oppressed Niger Delta peoples in bad light,” he said.
According to him, communities which play host to groups carrying out such activities in the future “will have themselves to blame.”