Seized on 1 May, the Italian nationals along with one Croatian and one US citizen were employed aboard the MV Oloibiri FSO in the Pennington River.
Mend had demanded the release of militant leader Dokubu Asari and former Bayelsa Governor Diepreye Alamieyesigha but agreed to free the expatriates after Sylva and Senator David Brigide visited the rebel camp to help "settle" their grievances.
