Three Dutch nationals who were kidnapped in the Niger Delta a week ago returned to the Netherlands on Monday.

They arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport together with Nigerian activist Sunny Ofehe, who was with them when they were taken by armed men in a speed boat.

One of the three, documentary maker Jandries Groenendijk, told an Nos reporter they had been held in the jungle by a group of 15 armed young men.

Ransom

Groenendijk was told he would be killed and the kidnappers also said the three were released because a ransom was paid for them, Nos said. Ofehe denies there was any payment made.

The Dutch nationals Erhard Leffers, Marianne Vos and Jandries Groenendijk and Ofehe, who lives in the Netherlands, were taken on May 4. Ofehe was released a short while later.

Leffers and Vos work for a printing house in Dedemsvaart. All three were in Nigeria to look at social projects and to promote a magazine they produce about the Niger Delta, news agency ANP said. Ofehe is involved in the Hope for Niger Delta campaign.