The four Korean workers who were kidnapped in the southern oil-rich area of Nigeria were “freely released” to Korean officials after days of “persistent persuasion,” according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, Saturday.

The four Korean workers of Hyundai Heavy Industries and a Nigerian colleague were kidnapped on Dec. 17 when still unidentified gunmen stormed a construction site on the Atlantic coast of Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, where the company was preparing to build factories.

The Nigerian, identified as Austin Giwa, was released days later most likely because he was born and raised in the area, according to Nigerian Ambassador to Korea Desmond Akawar who is currently in Nigeria.

“I just spoke with the Korean ambassador to Nigeria (Choi Jung-hyun) and I can assure you that the safety of the four Koreans was of utmost importance to us,” Akawar said by phone from Nigeria when the hostages were released late Friday local time.

The four Korean engineers were identified as Chae J. S., Kim J. H., Kim K. H.and Lee P. W., according to local Nigerian media reports.

They were finally released after “persistent persuasion” from Korean and local Bayelsa state security officers, according to the Foreign Ministry.

An African source with knowledge of kidnappings in Nigeria said the Nigerian central government authorities are usually involved in the negotiations and that a ransom is almost always given in exchange for the hostages to be released unharmed.

“No ransom has been made,” said Akawar. “This is a security matter and it is very important to us. It is our official policy to not pay ransom so as to not encourage more kidnappings in the future.”

Akawar is in Nigeria for the holidays and is due back in Korea, Jan. 6.

Experts say kidnappers who once targeted mainly expatriate oil workers like the Koreans have shifted their focus to wealthy Nigerian families in recent years.

The kidnapping comes on the heels of the Dec. 9 abduction of Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s mother in nearby Delta State. Kamene Okonjo, 83, was freed five days later and authorities insisted at that time as well that no ransom was paid.

Kidnapping is rife in Africa’s top oil producer, making millions of dollars a year for criminal gangs. It is common across the oil-rich southern region, especially in the Niger Delta.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)