CANBERRA, Australia — An Australian-based archaeologist and two Papua New Guinea nationals have been launched from captivity after being taken hostage by an armed group in a distant a part of Papua New Guinea a number of days in the past, Australian Overseas Minister Penny Wong mentioned Sunday.

“I welcome information from PNG that each one hostages have been launched and can quickly be reunited with their households,” Wong mentioned on Twitter.

The tutorial, Bryce Barker, and the opposite hostages have been reportedly held at gunpoint by 20 armed males, in response to an area police report. Police didn’t say when the kidnapping occurred.

Barker is a New Zealand nationwide based mostly on the College of Southern Queensland in Australia.

The archaeologist and his analysis crew have been conducting fieldwork within the distant Southern Highlands province of the poor South Pacific island nation after they have been taken hostage by the armed group.

Papua New Guinea authorities confirmed the discharge of 1 hostage on Friday. The final three hostages — the professor and two Papua New Guinea girls — have now been freed safely.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape mentioned the ultimate three hostages have been secured “by means of covert operations” with out paying the $3.5 million kina ($993,000) ransom.

“To criminals, there isn’t any revenue in crime,” he wrote on Fb.

Wong thanked the Papua New Guinea authorities for its assist in securing a protected and peaceable decision.

“Additionally because of the Australian and NZ officers who helped assist this consequence,” she mentioned.