Nigerian group says British hostage freed

(CNN) -- A Nigerian militant group said Friday that it has freed a British hostage.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said in an e-mail to reporters that it "can confirm that Matthew Maguire was handed over to the Nigerian government officials at a secret rendezvous and is currently in the city of Port Harcourt in Rivers state."

The British Foreign Office press office said it is looking into the reports.

Maguire was taken hostage along with 26 other oil workers when their boat was hijacked in September, according to British media. All the others have been released.

Nigeria's military has been clearing the western Niger Delta region in a major operation against the militant group, which demands a fairer distribution of the country's oil wealth.

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