Georgia Man Kidnapped in Nigeria Freed After One Week, US Embassy Says

A Georgia Man kidnapped last week in Nigeria and held for a reported $310,000 ransom has been released, the US embassy said Friday.

William Gregory "Greg" Ock, 50, of Bowdon, Ga., had been working for a Japanese company in the West African country when gunmen grabbed him from his car in the oil city of Warri on Jan. 20. The attackers also killed his police escort.

"I can confirm that he's been released, but I can't provide any other details at the time," said Melissa Ford, spokeswoman at the US embassy in Nigeria, according to AFP.

Shortly after the kidnapping, police spokesman Charles Muka said, "I understand the kidnappers have demanded 50 million naira [$310,000] in ransom."

However, Muka told AFP Friday that no ransom had been paid.

Asked why the kidnappers decided to release Ock, he replied, "They knew that we were closing in on them."

Scores of foreign workers have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta for ransom.

Attacks have been blamed on criminal gangs as well as militants claiming to be fighting for a greater share of oil revenue for the local population.

The Niger Delta is deeply impoverished and badly polluted despite its oil reserves.