The militants of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta released seven abducted oil workers to Anglo- Dutch oil giant Shell Oil Company on Monday, through offices of the governor of Bayelsa State, Timipreye Sylva.

The hostages were four Nigerians and three foreigners, Captain Theo Courtiers of Britain, Lee McNamara of Russia and Mate Lusa of Croatia.

The release took place in Yenagoa, the capital of the state in the Niger Delta region, secured by James Jephtah, head of the peace and conflict resolution committee in Bayelsa state, at 5:45 pm, local hour.

Through this kidnap, the militants are aiming to obtain the release of the movement’s spokesman, Henry Okah, a.k.a. Jomo Gbomo, who is detained in Angola on charges of gun-running.

The kidnapping took place on Shell’s “EA” field in the Ekeremor council area of Bayelsa State, on Saturday.

The abduction of oil workers, vandalism and oil theft was enhanced by the militants in the area since 2006 as they try to gain control over the vast oil and gas resources of the area where was trying to resume crude oil production in its western operations area in the Niger Delta.

115,000 barrels of crude oil are produced daily by the “EA” field, but production was suspended last year due to abductions and vandalism.

Governor Timipreye Sylva made a vow that such kidnappings would stop and asked oil companies to reopen their closed offices.