Americans Kidnapped By Pirates Off Nigeria Freed

Two Americans kidnapped by pirates off the seaboard area of Nigeria last month have been freed, the US State Department has said.

The Captain and head technician from the US-flagged C-Retriever were taken on October 23 after gunmen raged the 222ft commercial vessel.

Initial accounts indicated the pair were taken ashore to Nigeria.

A State Department authorized confirmed the Americans' had been set free but turned down to supply added information due to "privacy reasons".

Pirate attacks off Nigeria's seaboard area have risen by a third this year.

West Africa's Gulf of Guinea, a foremost commodities path, has become a haven for gangs liking to snatch cargoes and crews.

The White dwelling said last month it was progressively worried about the increase in piracy off West Africa.

different the waters off Somalia on the east seaboard area of Africa, through which ships now speed with equipped guards on board, many vessels have to anchor to do enterprise off West Africa with little protection.

Kidnapped sailors and oil workers taken in Nigerian waters are usually issued after a ransom is paid.

It was unclear if a ransom was paid to protect the issue of the mariners from the C-Retriever.

The State Department said only that "it is the principle of the United States not to pay ransom or boost the fee of ransom money".