THE family of a north-east oil worker taken hostage in Nigeria last month and released on Saturday have spoken of their relief.
Bruce Strachan, who was working for Aberdeen-based Global Lifting Services in the dangerous oil-rich south of the country, was held captive for more than a fortnight.
Mr Strachan, of Cults, in Aberdeen, is thought to have been on his way home in Port Harcourt on November 27 when two armed men in another car forced him to stop.
They took him hostage and demanded 300million naira – the equivalent of £1.6million – for his safe release.
Mr Strachan’s mother and father, Harold and Moyra, who live in Bieldside, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Bruce has been released and are looking forward to seeing him again. We were very relieved to get the phone call from him saying he had been released.
“We would like to thank all of our family, friends and neighbours who have been a tremendous support to us at this trying time.”
A Foreign Office spokes-man said: “We can confirm the safe release of a British national on December 12.”
Mr Strachan has a flat at Cults but is believed to have been living in Nigeria with his Nigerian wife, Susan, and their baby son David.
He was the latest of more than 200 foreign workers in almost three years to be abducted in southern Nigeria.
Hostages are normally released unharmed after a ransom is paid – although it is not known whether it has been paid in this case.