US: 2 Americans Kidnapped Off Nigeria Coast Freed

Posted December 2nd, 2011 at 9:20 am (UTC-5)
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The U.S. embassy in Nigeria says two Americans kidnapped off the country's coast last month have been freed.

The embassy confirmed the release Friday but gave no further details.

Two Americans and one Mexican national were seized by armed men November 17 while working on a vessel contracted by U.S.-based oil giant Chevron.

The embassy did not indicate if the Mexican man has been freed.

Foreign oil companies and their employees are often the target of attacks by militants and criminal gangs in Nigeria, Africa's top oil-producing country.

In addition, pirates have become active off the coast of Nigeria and other countries on the Gulf of Guinea.