Nigerian Islamist militants free three aid workers, other civilian hostages - U.N.

FILE PHOTO: UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria Edward Kallon speaks during the launch of the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for north-east Nigeria in Abuja, Nigeria February 8, 2018.REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Islamist militants released three aid workers and other civilians in northeast Nigeria who had been held hostage since late December, a United Nations official said on Thursday.

The people were kidnapped on Dec. 22 by militants posing as soldiers who stopped a convoy of commercial vehicles travelling towards the city of Maiduguri, state capital of the northeastern state of Borno.