S Korean hostages to be freed today

Apparently, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari himself called for the NDPVF to let them go. And no apparent effect on oil markets. Read about it as the Washington Post and BBC.

This abduction and the one last weekend of the American, Canadian and Brit rig workers were quickly resolved, and this most recent one was resolved without affecting oil prices. I think the militias are becoming much less centralized in recent months, with splinters acting on their own and claiming responsibility for their actions in the name of the organizations from which they've splintered. Perhaps oil traders are starting to see this.

But one worrying idea from the BBC:

Our correspondent says that many armed groups in the Niger Delta have links to competing local politicians and have been used to help win elections in the past.

So the fear is that violence in the Delta will rise as armed groups, political or otherwise, strive to exert their power, as campaigning starts for elections due next year.

(Image BBC)