Nigeria confirms release of rescue workers kidnapped by gunmen

Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-03 18:28:37|Editor: mingmei
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ABUJA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Four Nigerian rescue workers kidnapped by gunmen in the southern part of the country were released unhurt after several days in captivity, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said on Friday.

An official of NEMA told Xinhua in Abuja that the four victims, who work for the agency, were immediately taken to a hospital for treatment after they were freed on Thursday.

The rescue workers were kidnapped on April 23 by gunmen in Ahoada area of the southern state of Rivers. They were working on the National Food Security Intervention program in the state when the gunmen struck.

"Though it's a security issue, the NEMA, as a responsive agency of government, did all it could to make sure that they were released unhurt," said Vincent Owan, a director of risk management at the agency.

After an initial medical examination, doctors said that the workers are physically weak but basically in good health condition.

Rivers state is located in the oil-rich but troubled Niger Delta where there have been many incidents of kidnapping.

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