Most Of 60 Kidnapped In Nigeria Free

Most of the civilian and military hostages seized in a raid the previous day on an oil facility and navy base in southern Nigeria have been released and the remainder should be free within hours, a police official said Wednesday.

Hafiz Ringim, the police commissioner for Bayelsa state, said the eight remaining hostages were employees of a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell PLC.

Some 60 oil workers had been seized, along with an unknown number of navy personnel when attackers wielding automatic rifles overran the navy base and occupied the nearby oil facility. Most of the hostages were released late Tuesday.

"Last night there was a discussion between the government and militant leaders and we think we have reached an agreement," Ringim said. "We will see if the conditions have been fulfilled by noon."

He did not elaborate on the deal, but said the attackers had initially demanded that the oil company supply light and water to the community and tackle erosion problems, he said. They also demanded cash, although he declined to say how much.

Attacks by armed fighters on oil installations are common in the poverty-stricken southern Delta. Although Nigeria is Africa's largest exporter of crude, government corruption means there is little infrastructure like clean water, regular electricity or roads.

Many communities turn to the oil companies to provide services, provoking clashes when demands are not met.

The west African nation is the source of about 5 percent of the oil imported by the United States, making it the fourth largest foreign source behind Canada, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.