Lagos: Six foreign oil workers, including Indians, who were kidnapped from an offshore oil field in the Niger Delta were released today after three days in captivity, officials said.

The Indian and Polish workers are in good health, Italian energy giant Eni SpA said.

Gunmen in speedboats kidnapped the workers at dawn last Friday from the Mystras, some 50 miles offshore. Another Nigerian worker was reported to have been wounded in the leg in the attack.

The Mystras is capable of producing 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Militants have kidnapped more than 150 foreigners this year to press their demands for local control of oil revenues. The attacks since late 2005 have cut Nigeria s regular output by about 20 per cent, helping send crude prices toward all-time highs.

Locals have for years demanded a greater share of the wealth in Africa's largest crude producer, and the region remains desperately poor despite its great natural bounty.

The government of President Umaru Yar Adua has stepped up efforts to maintain calm in the Niger Delta, an violence has waned since he took power in May 29.

Source : PTI