British oil hostage 'to be freed today'

A British hostage held by Nigeria’s main militant group for nearly nine months will be released today, his kidnappers promised.

Militants snatched diver Matthew Maguire, 34, from Birkenhead, from a boat taking him to work on an oil rig in the restive southern oil region.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said today that they were hoping to release Mr Maguire shortly in honour of his birthday.

Mr Maguire was among 27 oil workers kidnapped by militants when their vessel was hijacked in early September. All other hostages taken in that incident have been released.