NIGERIA: Nigerian governor says too many people are involved in negotiations for the release of nine foreign hostages

Record ID: 236366

  • Title: NIGERIA: Nigerian governor says too many people are involved in negotiations for the release of nine foreign hostages
  • Date: 25th February 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) GOVERNOR OF NIGERIA'S OIL-PRODUCING DELTA JAMES IBORI, SAYING: "It is not helpful to develop multiple channels because that raises some concerns with those in government, including myself that are involved in these negotiations. Because what that does it to cause a lot of confusion. Both channels are indeed capable of delaying instead of escalating the process."
  • Embargoed: 12th March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAAMOBWTNK9FBU328YL9R5ZQ9X
  • Story Text: A Nigerian government official involved in the negotiations for the release of nine foreign oil worker hostages said on Friday (February 24) that too many people were getting involved, causing delay in securing their release. The workers -- three Americans, one Briton, two Egyptians, two Thais and a Filipino -- were snatched by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta from a barge operated by U.S. oil services company Willbros last Saturday (February 18). "It is not helpful to develop multiple channels because that raises some concerns with those in government, including myself that are involved in these negotiations," Delta Governor Delta James Ibori said at a news conference. "What that does it to cause a lot of confusion," Ibori added. The militant group released pictures on Thursday showing all nine surrounded by their armed captors in a jungle setting. A previous group of four foreign hostages seized by the same Ijaw militant group last month were released after 19 days in captivity. Nigeria is the fifth largest oil supplier to the United States, and the eighth largest exporter in the world, but the militants' attacks have forced oil companies to cut output by a fifth.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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