Police have told international news agencies that Nigerian security forces helped negotiate the release of the five expatriates.

The workers were abducted last Thursday by armed men who arrived at the rig in several boats and killed two guards.

An AFP report today confirmed the Australian hostage as Jason Lane, while the two New Zealanders were Bruce Klenner and Brent Goddard.

The Lebanese and Venezuelan nationals were also released.

Their release follows that of two of Shell’s Nigerian oil workers.

Shell’s workers were seized when they went to repair a vandalised pipeline in the neighbouring Rivers state on Saturday, Forbes reported.

More than 150 foreigners have been kidnapped in the region so far this year.