The family of Cosma Russo, one of the technicians kidnapped on 7 December by the MEND fighters (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) asked to the kidnappers the release of the hostages and said that that it is worried that postponement of the release may endanger the life of the hostages.
A statement released by the lawyer Pietro Ditaranto, lawyer of the Russo family, said: ‘After 26 days since the kidnapping of its beloved family member, the Russo family, in spite of its confidence in the work done by every one, makes a direct appeal to the kidnappers so that they may return to the family and to their society, Cosma Russo and the other hostages.
Anna Carella, wife of Russo, worries that the postponement of the kidnapping may start the mechanism of an intervention beyond negotiations with a life danger for the hostages.’
In the previous days the technicians were allowed to call their families and reassure them of their health state. For this reason the Russo family is asking the foreign ministry and ENI to ‘continue in the positive commitment and in particular to obtain another telephone contact with the hostages.’ –