Malta-based oil servicing company VAOS has confirmed three of its workers kidnapped by militants allied to the Islamic State last month have been released.
The men, two Bangladeshi and a Ghanaian, were evacuated to Malta on Friday. The Bangladeshi workers left shortly after arriving on the island and the Ghanaian is expected to leave today.
VAOS (Value Added Oilfield Services) said: “All three are in good health and have reported that they were treated well during their captivity”.
“Undeniably, the families were overjoyed, hugely relieved and thankful that their loved ones have been safely released.
“These individuals will return home as soon as possible, so they can fully recover from their ordeal and be reunited with their families,” the company said.
Undeniably the families were overjoyed, hugely relieved and thankful that their loved ones have been safely released
They were found by a patrol in Sirte after Misurata’s Battalion 166 entered the coastal city following weeks of fierce fighting with IS militias, who had taken over.
The men had been abducted during a raid by IS militants on an oilfield run by the company in al-Ghani, near the town of Zalla, 750 kilometres southeast of the capital, Tripoli.
Six men – an Austrian, a Czech and four Filipinos – remain in captivity. The company said all stakeholders “remain totally committed to securing the release of the remaining six VOAS employees”.
Initial reports said the group had killed all 11 guards on site. However, it later transpired that three had been spared and they explained to the authorities exactly what had happened.
The eight killed were allegedly beheaded, according to a spokesman for the armed forces associated with the internationally-recognised government of Tobruk.
This was the second IS attack having indirect implications for Malta.
In January, gunmen attacked the Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel in Tripoli, killing 10 people. The militants were eventually killed by Libyan fighters.
The attack was claimed almost immediately by IS through a tweet from an account associated with the group.
It also subsequently featured in the February edition of the IS magazine, Dabiq.