Freedom for Irish engineer held hostage on Nigerian oil rig

An Irish engineer who was trapped with other foreign nationals on a Nigerian oil rig is said to be safe and well.

Fifty-four-year-old Jim Kiely from Cloyne village in east Cork was one of about 80 people on the rig when up to 200 armed Nigerians took control of the platform off the coast of Nigeria on Tuesday.

Mr Kiely and other foreign workers were released unharmed yesterday following the intervention of the Nigerian navy.