MEND to release one hostage

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) says it will release kidnapped Mathew Maguire on Monday as his birthday gift.

MEND spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, stated this in an email. “Today, June 1 is Mathew Maguire’s birthday. He has spent close to 9 months in captivity and we hope to release him today as his gift,” Mr. Gbomo said.

“Due to safety concerns, we wish to alert the British High Commission of our intentions so they can inform the government to put a leash on the overzealous JTF who may plan to ambush the fighters along with Mathew to score cheap publicity that he was rescued by them.

His company may begin the process of receiving him tonight while we make arrangements for a safe drop off zone,” he added.

The country’s Joint Taskforce (JTF) had started a military onslaught on the region since the 16th of May 2009 following the alleged kidnap of some soldiers by a faction of the militants in the Niger delta creeks.

Mr. Maguire, who works for Adamac Industries Ltd, was kidnapped in September last year when the armed convoy he was travelling in was attacked in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

At the time of the kidnap, MEND said he will not be freed unless Henry Okah, its leader was released from jail by the Nigerian government. Mr. Okah is on trial for gun running and treason.

In a statement released in January, Mr Gbomo said: “We intend to hold on to [the Britons] for as long as a very sick and dying Henry Okah is held hostage by the Nigerian state. Since their fate is now tied to his, God forbid that Henry Okah should die in detention.”

Another Briton seized with him, Robin Barry Hughes, was set free by the militants in April because of his ill health.

MEND, the main militant group in the oil-rich Niger Delta has previously used the British hostage to warn the British government against offering any training or equipment to the Nigerian armed forces.

Kidnapping by militant groups is very common in the Niger Delta. Expatriates as well as Nigerian workers have been kidnapped in the past three years since militants resorted to kidnapping as a way of to getting to the oil companies operating in the region.