Nigerian militants 'to release British hostage'

Nigeria’s main militant group is planning to release a British hostage held in captivity for more than six months.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said today that Robin Barry Hughes will be freed very soon. The group said it was putting safety measures into place for Mr Hughes’ release.

Mr Hughes was among 27 oil workers kidnapped by militants when their vessel was hijacked September 9. Most of the other hostages were later released.

There have been hundreds of kidnappings reported in the southern Niger Delta in recent years, and the practice appears to be spreading into other parts of Africa’s most-populous nation and biggest oil producer.