Kidnapped Spanish doctor freed in Nigeria

GlobalPost

A Spanish doctor who was kidnapped in Nigeria earlier this month has been released. 

Jose Manuel Machimbarrena Corcuera was released Friday, a Nigerian foreign ministry spokesman told Agence France-Presse

The spokesman told the news agency Machimbarrena was "tired but in good health." 

He was kidnapped from his home April 4, Reuters said. The news agency said the doctor has been living in Nigeria since 1978. 

Several foreigners have been kidnapped and held for ransom in oil-rich Nigeria in recent years. Most victims are released after ransom payments are made, AFP said. 

Not all situations end so happily, however. Two Europeans were killed after a failed hostage rescue attempt in Nigeria last month.

More from GlobalPost: British and Italian hostages killed in a failed rescue attempt in Nigeria 

It wasn't clear whether a ransom was paid Machimbarrena's release.

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