The three Dutch nationals who were kidnapped by unknown gunmen at Letugbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State last week were released on Saturday night, the police said Sunday.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Alex Akhogbe, confirmed the release of the Dutch nationals in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.
“The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Okpara, handed the Dutch nationals over to the Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. John Groffen, on Saturday night at the police headquarters in Yenagoa.
“They were freed earlier in the Southern Ijaw LGA and were handed over immediately to the ambassador by the Commissioner of Police after a debriefing.
“Afterwards, they were taken to the Government House in Yenagoa,” he said.
He said the abducted men were on a fact-finding mission to the Dodo River communities and visited Amatu Cottage Hospital built by Chevron.
The police spokesman said the Dutch nationals were returning to Warri in Delta when they were seized by some armed men.
The Dutch nationals, Erhard Leffers, Marianne Hendricks-Vos and Yandries Groenenedijk, were kidnapped alongside two Nigerians on May 4.
The two Nigerians, Sunny Ofehe and Femi Soewu, were however reportedly set free on May 5.
It was gathered that the foreign nationals were released at Ekeni Community in Southern Ijaw LGA.
The police spokesman said no ransom was negotiated with the abductors.
