MONTREAL (AFP) – Canada's Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said Wednesday that he was "relieved" by news that 19 hostages, including a Canadian, were set free following a military operation in Nigeria.

Canadian Robert Croke was kidnapped the night of September 7-8 while he was on a Nigerian oil platform, Cannon said in a statement.

"I am greatly relieved to confirm that Mr. Croke has been released and is now safe," said Cannon.

"I have ensured that through our officials he receives consular assistance and is able to be reunited with his family as soon as possible.

"We would like to thank everyone who worked to ensure a safe and peaceful resolution to this incident," Cannon said.

Nigeria's military on Wednesday freed the 19 hostages in an operation in the country's main oil-producing region, security sources told AFP.

Those released included two French, two Americans, two Indonesians and Nigerians as well as the Canadian, the sources said.

The victims were all taken hostage in recent raids on oil facilities in the country's Niger Delta region, the heart of one of the world's largest oil industries.