Nigerian authorities have released the Seattle film crew detained over the weekend on suspicion of traveling in a restricted area and they are to complete “final processing” on Friday, according to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office.

The Seattle film crew of four and their Nigerian companion were released from detention and were on their way to a hotel to rest on Wednesday, U. S. Sen. Maria Cantwell said through a spokeswoman.

“This is the first step,” spokeswoman Ciaran Clayton said, as quoted by the Seattle Times. “They have to go through some processing. We’re hoping by Friday they will be officially cleared and released.”

The four Washington state residents and the Nigerian citizen were jailed Saturday by the Nigerian State Security Service as they traveled by boat on the Niger Delta. Government security forces have declared the Niger Delta a security zone while they fight militants there.

All five persons were picked up by U. S. Embassy representatives at a detention center on Wednesday and taken to Abuja, said Leslye Wood, spokeswoman for “Sweet Crude,” the documentary the crew was filming about oil production in the Niger River Delta.

The crew entered Nigeria legally on April 5. Authorities knew of their intention to film in the delta. This was their fourth trip to the Niger Delta during the past 2 1/2 years.

The crew consists of film director Sandy Cioffi, who teaches at Seattle Central Community College, producer Tammi Sims, and photographers Clifford Worsham and Sean Porter.

They were gathering footage to complete “Sweet Crude,” a documentary focusing on the extreme poverty locals face, despite the available and valuable crude oil in the region.

They have apparently had no problems on previous trips. Their health condition is not known yet, nor is the date of their return to the United States available.

Joel Bisina, a peace mediator and founder of Niger Delta Professionals for Development in Warri, was traveling with the Seattle crew.

Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, D-Wash., and about a dozen other members of Congress petitioned the Nigerian government on Tuesday to release the crew, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reports.

It remains to be seen whether the four Washingtonians stay on in Nigeria to complete their film or if they will travel back to Seattle immediately.