Pirates Kidnap Two Americans Near Nigeria

Officials assume ransom is behind the attack

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Two Americans have been kidnapped by pirates in waters off the coast of Nigeria, U.S. officials confirmed Thursday.

The captain and chief engineer of an oil supply ship owned by Louisiana-based Edison Chouest Offshore were seized after the vessel, “C-Retriever,” was attacked in the Gulf of Guinea Wednesday.

U.S. officials said the working assumption is that the two were kidnapped for ransom, and that there are no immediate plans for a hostage rescue attempt, NBC News reports.

Pirate attacks off the coast of Nigeria have jumped by a third this year.

 

[NBC News]