Two Nigerian hostages released

Gunmen have released two Nigerian senior managers seized last weekend in the country’s oil-rich south, colleagues at Royal Dutch Shell PLC said today.

The two were among 15 Shell employees attacked when they went to repair a vandalised pipeline on Saturday. The others were released that day.

The colleagues did not say if a ransom was paid for the two managers’ release.

Oil workers are frequently kidnapped for ransom in the Niger Delta region by militants demanding more political rights and a greater share of oil revenues or by criminal gangs seeking ransoms.

Companies say the attacks make it difficult to repair faulty pipelines, raising local anger over pollution and making it more likely that communities will target their employees.

More than 150 foreigners have been seized in the Delta so far this year as well as many Nigerians, including three children.

Arrests are rare even though the kidnappings and bombings have cut production in Africa’s largest crude producer by around a quarter, helping to drive up oil prices worldwide.