A YOUNG Co Antrim woman is recovering at home after she was freed following a kidnap ordeal in southern Nigeria.
Alanna Carson (23), from Ballymoney, was helping the Mission for Vision Christian charity when she and three other aid workers were abducted last month.
The charity's founder Ian Squire (57), from Surrey, was killed.
Ms Carson and fellow workers Dr David Donovan and Shirley Donovan, both 57, who founded Christian health charity New Foundations, were held by their captors for around three weeks
All four were taken by suspected militants on October 13 from the oil-rich Delta area. They had been working in the town of Enekorogha.
Ms Carson is a past pupil of Dalriada School in Ballymoney and grew up outside the town.
She studied optometry at Ulster University in Coleraine and graduated in 2015.
She later worked as an optician at Specsavers in Leven in Scotland.
Store director Adrian McCann said: "We are hugely relieved to hear that our colleague has been safely released and back home with her family."
Relatives of the four said they were "delighted and relieved" that Ms Carson and Dr and Mrs Donovan had returned safely.
"Our thoughts are now with the family and friends of Ian as we come to terms with his sad death," they said in a statement.
DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said Ms Carson's family had endured a "terrible ordeal".
"I am sure her family are very relieved to have her home," he said.
"It's very sad that someone has lost their life as a result of this."
Ulster Unionist councillor Darryl Wilson said he was saddened by Mr Squire's death.
"I am delighted and relieved that three of the hostages, including Ms Carson from Ballymoney, and Dr and Mrs Donovan have been released and returned safely," he said.
"My thoughts and prayers are now with the family and friends of Mr Squire as learn of his sad death."
A UK Foreign Office spokesman said it was helping all four families.
"This has clearly been a traumatic time for all concerned, and our staff will continue to do all we can to support the families," he said.
"We are grateful to the Nigerian authorities, and are unable to comment given the ongoing nature of their investigations."
