Oil worker George Scerri, kidnapped in Nigeria over a month ago, was released early yesterday morning and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg insisted the government had paid no ransom to secure the man's freedom.
George Scerri, who turned 62 on Monday, was with a Pakistani national when the two were abducted on May 23 in Omoku, outside the main oil city, Port Harcourt, as they were driving towards an oil rig.
The men, who work for Texas-based drilling company Lonestar, were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen who, Dr Borg, said formed part of a criminal gang that demanded ransom but had no political agendas.
Lonestar is a major contractor to Shell Petroleum Nigeria, Agip and other oil companies in Nigeria. It has been handling drilling services in the Niger Delta area since 1993.
Speaking at a press conference on Mr Scerri's release, an evidently satisfied minister said the government had paid no ransom for the release but "could not confirm nor deny" whether someone else had done so.
Some time after the men's abduction, the kidnappers demanded €5.5 million to secure their release. Mr Scerri was released in Bayelsa, three hours away from where he and the Pakistani colleague were seized.
Dr Borg said that, according to Mr Scerri, the two oil workers were initially held in a room in an unknown location and later taken to the jungle. This raised concern on the state of their health, primarily because of malaria.
According to the minister, Mr Scerri was treated well by the kidnappers and was in a good state of health when released. He was in good spirits, Dr Borg added.
He was picked up by officials from Lonestar, who had been in touch with the kidnappers.
Dr Borg thanked Britain and Italy, whose diplomatic representation in Nigeria assisted a Maltese delegation which was there for two weeks. He also thanked Germany and Spain for having offered to help.
Cecilia Attard Pirotta, the Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Ministry, said she, along with a member of the law enforcement forces in Malta, flew to Nigeria on June 2 to follow the case closely. The mission was expected to last five days but they kept extending their stay in view of developments. The delegation contacted the central government, the country's State Security Services and the Nigerian Home Affairs Ministry.
The River State, where the abduction took place, is not an easy territory at all, she said, adding that the delegation had been assured that the group that kidnapped Mr Scerri was not ill-treating him.
There are about 10 expatriates who are still abducted in Nigeria, she said.
Ms Attard Pirotta spent two weeks in Nigeria but the other member of her delegation stayed on. Asked why the delegation had split up, Dr Borg said the political aspect had been fulfilled so the Permanent Secretary could leave.
He said this was the second time a Maltese national was kidnapped abroad. In the 1990s, a Jesuit missionary was abducted in Ethiopia.
While confirming there are other Maltese nationals in Nigeria, he said it was not advisable for Maltese people to travel there, unless they had tight security.
Both the Nationalist Party and the Malta Labour Party expressed satisfaction that Mr Scerri was released.