Kidnappers release British, American hostages taken near coast of Nigeria

By WILLIAM NSOYOH

The Associated Press

YENAGOA, Nigeria -- An American and a Briton kidnapped from a ship mapping petroleum deposits off Nigeria's oil-rich southern coast were released Tuesday, government and company officials said.

The two men taken hostage Thursday were employed by a Norwegian firm working with Chevron Corp. to map the seabed for potential petroleum deposits when gunmen raided it and fled in speedboats.

"They have been released today," Ekiyor Welson, spokesman for the local state government, said Tuesday.

In Oslo, the oil field services company, Petroleum Geo-Services, issued a statement on its Web site saying both men were in good health and had not been harmed. There has been no claim of responsibility.

"Arrangements have been made for them to travel home as soon as possible to be reunited with their families," the company said.

PGS identified the American as Jim Brazel and the Briton as Martin Maddieson.

The kidnapping was the latest in dozens of seizures and attacks targeting Nigeria's troubled oil industry since the beginning of this year. Past hostage takings have generally ended peacefully, with the hostages released unharmed.

Violence in Nigeria this year has cut about a quarter of Nigeria's normal production of 2.5 million barrels per day, helping boost crude prices worldwide.

Militant groups who have claimed responsibility for pipeline attacks and other kidnappings claim to be fighting on behalf of an impoverished population for a greater share of wealth from oil companies and the federal government, which apportions the revenue among Nigeria's 36 states. Despite the oil wealth, many average Nigerians remain deeply impoverished.

Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer, and ranks among the world's top 10 petroleum exporters.