More hostages freed in Nigerian delta, army says

* Military presses on with offensive against militants

* Authorities hand out aid to hundreds of displaced

* Offensive to continue until missing soldiers found

By Segun Owen

WARRI, Nigeria, May 23 (Reuters) - Nigerian security forces said they had freed three more Filipino hostages in the oil-producing Niger Delta on Saturday and vowed to press on with an offensive that has forced hundreds of villagers to flee.

Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were being used to survey the creeks and guide ground troops to try to flush out militants from remote communities around the port of Warri, military spokesman Colonel Rabe Abubakar said.

"We were able to rescue three Filipinos today," he said. "People should not be panicked when they see helicopters or planes. Innocent people should not fear. We are targeting the militants, not them."

The military began its biggest offensive for years just over a week ago, bombarding militant camps around Warri from the air and sea before sending three battalions of soldiers to hunt down rebels believed to have fled into surrounding communities.