Six Russian hostages released in Nigeria

The Russian Embassy confirms on Wednesday that the four men and two women staffers of firm UC RusAl have been set free on June 3.

Six Russian hostages in Nigeria abducted on June 3 have been set free, the Russian Embassy confirmed on Wednesday.

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The four men and two women staffers of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, a subsidiary of the Russian aluminium giant UC RusAl, were abducted by gunmen who broke into their residence in the southeastern town of Ikot Abasi and killed their Nigerian driver.

"They have been released but we have no specific information yet," said an official at the Russian embassy in the Nigerian capital Lagos. The diplomat said all six hostages were in good health and without visible injuries.

The foreign ministry of Russia has welcomed the release.

"It was a long and determined effort," a ministry spokesperson said. "We are satisfied that the issue has been resolved successfully."

Media reports earlier said the captors had demanded a ransom of $480,000, but Russian officials dismissed the rumours.