Bakassi militia free French oil hostages in Cameroon
11 Nov 2008 21:28:56 GMT Source: Reuters
(Adds quotes from second militia leader paragraphs 9-11, 22) By Tansa Musa YAOUNDE, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Ten crew members of a French oil supply vessel seized by gunmen off Cameroon last month have been released unharmed, the French government and the group which abducted them said on Tuesday. "They were released ... we sent them back to the Bakassi territory to the Cameroonian authorities," said General A.G. Basuo, operations commander of the Niger Delta Defence and Security Council (NDDSC) which said it carried out the kidnapping. The seven French nationals, a Tunisian and two Cameroonians were to be received by Cameroonian President Paul Biya in the capital Yaounde on Tuesday after which the French would fly home, French diplomats said. "My commanders said they were all in good health," Basuo added, speaking by telephone. He declined to give more details. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Cameroon's Foreign Ministry had earlier announced the release of the crew. They were crewing the vessel "Bourbon Sagitta" operated by French oil services firm Bourbon <GPBN.PA> when they were seized on Oct. 31 by militia opposed to this year's transfer of the Bakassi peninsula from Nigeria to Cameroon, neighbours in the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria is Africa's top oil producer, while Cameroon is a smaller exporter of crude. The Bourbon vessel was contracted by French oil major Total <TOTF.PA>. The militia groups, the NDDSC and allied Bakassi Freedom Fighters, have objected to the Aug. 14 transfer of the Bakassi peninsula to comply with a World Court ruling. They say they are fighting for compensation for Nigerian fishermen and their families who they claim are being forced to leave the peninsula. Another NDDSC leader, Ebi Dari, told Reuters his group had released the hostages without obtaining any concessions. "My home country Nigeria has a good relationship with France, I don't want to do anything to break it," he said. Dari repeated a demand that the government of Cameroon open talks with the Bakassi militants. Basuo declined to say whether any ransom had been paid or what other conditions may have been set. "I just ordered my commanders to release them," he said. French Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier said the French government had paid no ransom and there was no indication that any ransom had been paid. GULF OF GUINEA PIRACY The NDDSC had also been demanding the release of two militia members held by Cameroon. A separate statement from Bourbon said the 10 had received a medical examination after their release and were in good health. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a statement he had spoken to his Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya and thanked him for his efforts, which he said had enabled a quick and successful end to the incident. Kouchner also thanked Cameroonian and Nigerian authorities. "This event underlines the urgent necessity for the international community to fight effectively against maritime piracy," the French foreign minister said. The United Nations and Western law enforcement agencies are worried about an increase in the activities of armed pirates in the Gulf of Guinea. The gunmen have used fast launches to raid and rob banks and ships far beyond the borders of Nigeria where Niger Delta oil militants are already fighting the government. Dari did not rule out future attacks. "The BFF (Bakassi Freedom Fighters) can attack at any time," he said. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/) (Additional reporting by James Mackenzie in Paris and Daniel Magnowski in Dakar; writing by Pascal Fletcher and James Mackenzie; editing by Michael Roddy)
