Nigerian captors release British hostage

LONDON, April 19 (UPI) -- A Nigerian rebel group Sunday freed British oil worker Robin Barry Hughes, one of 27 oil workers who were kidnapped in September, officials said.

His captors handed Hughes over to military officials in Nigeria, Sky News reported Sunday. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said earlier in an e-mail message that Hughes, 59, was being released "based on the milk of human kindness and compassion" due to his age and health.

There was no word on whether ransom had been paid for Hughes' release, Sky News said.

However, MEND said another Briton, Matthew John Maguire -- who was kidnapped along with Hughes and the others when an oil supply vessel was hijacked -- would not be released along with Hughes. Most of the other hostages were released shortly after they were taken in September, the report said.

MEND had maintained Hughes and Maguire would be held until the government of Nigeria released MEND leader Henry Okah, who is on trial in an alleged arms trafficking case, Sky News said.

In January, the captors released a photo of the pair in which they appeared to be tired but not obviously injured.