By IANS,
Lagos : Gunmen attacked a vessel off southern Nigeria and kidnapped six foreigners on board, including three Ukrainians, two Indians and a Russian, police said Wednesday.
Fidelis Odunna, police spokesperson in Bayelsa State, near where the incident took place, confirmed the abduction, which took place Sunday.
He identified the vessel as Armada Tuah, operated by Century Group, a company from Lagos state, reported Xinhua.
So far, there was no clue about whereabouts of those kidnapped, although security agents have launched a mission to locate and free them, he added.
Police said pirates were seeking more than $1 million for the release of their captives.
The confirmation was made after Russian media reported that pirates kidnapped the foreigners on board a ship 70 km off the coast of southern Nigeria Sunday.
The attack was the fourth within 10 days, marking the worsening security situation in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, where piracy and kidnappings have been frequently reported in recent years.