LAGOS, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian militants have released a ship they hijacked in oil-producing Niger Delta on Sunday, Lagos-based Punch newspaper reported Tuesday.

    The report said the released ship was heading towards Escravos in Nigeria's southeastern Delta State on Monday night and would be in the state's oil city Warri late on Tuesday.

    It was learnt that the ship was conveying equipment for the multibillion U.S. dollars Escravos Gas-to-Liquid project being executed in the Delta State.

    Commander of military unit Joint Task Force (JTF) Wuyep Rimtip had earlier issued a deadline to the militants to free the ship and its crew members on Monday or face the wrath of the security agency.