The main Nigerian militant group says it will release six hostages taken earlier this month from the chemical tanker Sichem Peace.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta says in a statement Tuesday that the tanker’s six crew members will be released within 24 hours as part of the 60-day cease-fire it announced last week.
Militant spokesman Jomo Gbomo warns that the group will end the cease-fire if pipelines and facilities it has destroyed are repaired.
The militants last week said they were halting attacks after the government released an ailing rebel leader. Both sides welcomed the prospect of negotiations to end years of violence that have trimmed Nigeria’s daily oil output by 25 percent to about 1.7 million barrels.