Some of the most influential groups in Nigeria's Niger Delta areseeking the release of two British oil workers a day after militants'holding them said one of them was ill.
Themilitant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta,MEND, said in an e-mailed statement that one of the British hostages inits custody has contracted what it called a strange disease and wasvery ill. It said a local doctor had been called in to treat him butdismissed the possibility of freeing the sick hostage.
The NigerDelta Energy Development and Security Strategy, one of the region'smost influential pressure groups, says it is in talks with the rebelgroup to release the British hostages. Spokesman for the group, TonyUranta, told VOA it is time to bring the four-month long hostage sagato closure.
"Either way, whether because of government'snegligence or reluctance or lack of speed to act, or MENDnon-compliance with certain rules of engagement, we do not think it isin anybody's interest to hold the hostages for as long as they areholding them. And we are very actively engaged, even now, in speakingto members of the group to see how soon and how they are going toaffect the release of these poor men so that families can begin toheave a sigh of relief," he said.
The two Britons were firstkidnapped in September with two South Africans, an Ukrainian and morethan 20 Nigerians when their supply vessel was hijacked off the coastof the Niger Delta.
MEND then seized the men from their originalcaptors and released all of them except the Britons. The group says itwould hold the men until Henry Okah, the leader of MEND who is facinggun-running and treason charges, was released.
The Niger Deltapreviously produced 2.5 million barrels of oil per day, but output hasdeclined to less than two million barrels.
Since January 2006, 44 Britons and more than 200 foreigners have been kidnapped in Nigeria. One Briton was killed.
Analysts say the slump in oil prices is making the Niger Delta even more dangerous as the money to tackle militancy dries up.