American Hostage Released In Nigeria

An American and five other foreigners kidnapped in Nigeria's southern oil region were released Wednesday, the government said.

The six men were set free in the Port Harcourt area, the focus of a series of kidnappings in recent weeks, said Rivers state government spokesman Magnus Abe.

Among those released was Royce Parfait, a commercial ship captain from Charleston, Tenn., who was abducted 10 days ago during a raid on a nightclub by suspected militants.

"I appreciate everything everybody's done for us. We're having champagne," Parfait told The Associated Press in a brief telephone interview.

Port Harcourt, Nigeria's oil hub, has been rocked by a series of kidnappings — 16 in the past two weeks — that led President Olusegun Obasanjo to declare a clampdown last week.

Ten hostages were released unharmed in recent days. The six freed Wednesday were also apparently unharmed. Hostages taken by militants looking for ransom are rarely harmed and most kidnappings end peacefully.

Officials say the recent kidnappings have been linked to militants upset about oil jobs going to foreigners.