As the military offensive against Nigerian oil militants intensified on Friday, the Nigerian military said it had recovered two ships hijacked by militants on Wednesday and rescues six of the 15 Filipino crew members and four Nigerians.
Spokesman for the military Joint Task Force in the oil region, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said in a statement that the soldiers had also taken over the Camp 5 in Delta state, operated by warlord Government Tompolo.
The crew members were rescued from the camp, where they were being held after their abduction.
“They have been rescued. And they are in good health. And the militants camp has been obliterated. In addition, six barges loaded with crude oil was also seized from the camp,” he said.
He did not comment on the claims by the largest militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), that one of the hostages has been killed by ”stray bullets from the Nigerian Army”.
MEND, which has declared an ”all out war” in the oil region, also said it had captured a warship, destroyed six gun boats and killed or captured several soldiers.
Friday’s military offensive was the culmination of three days of skirmishes between militants and the military, and has triggered fears of another oil war similar to the one declared by MEND last September.
MEND has warned all oil companies operating in the region to evacuate their workers latest midnight Friday.