One of two British hostages, Mr. Robin Barry, held by the Nigerian Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the most prominent militant group in the country, had been freed on Sunday in the country's oil region, MEND said in a statement available via e-mail.
"MEND can confirm that the British hostage, Mr. Robin Barry Hughes regained his freedom about 1730Hrs today, Sunday April 19, 2009 after he was handed over to contacts who in turn handed him over to his employers," said the statement, signed by the group's spokesperson "Jomo Gbomo".
"We did not hand him over to the military who might want to take some credit as they are considered our enemy and has not played any role in this transaction," it said.
According to the statement, the remaining hostage, Mr Macguire, will remain in the group's custody until further notice.
The group said it did not demand any ransom for Mr. Robin Barry's release.
The two British oil workers were kidnapped in September 2008 in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta region.
Since the beginning of 2006, more than 200 foreigners have been kidnapped in the country's restive oil region, most of whom having been released unharmed.
