The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has released the American it took hostage during an attack on the offshore Bonga oil field operated by Shell early Thursday.
”Capt. J. (Jack) Stone, who was captured by our fighters in the early hours of today (Thursday), was released unconditionally to his employers by 1645Hrs,” a terse statement from the group said..
In an earlier message that was emailed to journalists, MEND had said stone was an employee of oil services company Tidex.
”This man was supposed to only be released in exchange for all Niger Delta hostages being held in northern Nigeria by the Nigerian government. (But) because the criminals in the government and state security want to use this opportunity to make money from ransom, we have decided he will be released in the coming hours,” MEND had said..
The MEND attack, which has been confirmed by Shell and the military task force deployed to the oil region, has led to the shutdown of the 200,000bpd facility, triggering fears of higher oil prices. Panapress .
