Pirates Kidnap U.S. Sailors Off Nigerian Coast

[HuffingtonPost]

ABUJA/LONDON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Pirates have attacked an  oil supply vessel off the Nigerian coast and kidnapped the  captain and chief engineer, both U.S.  citizens, security  sources said on Thursday.                

Pirate attacks off Nigeria's coast have jumped by a third  this year as ships passing through West Africa's Gulf of Guinea,  a major commodities route, have increasingly come under threat  from gangs wanting to snatch cargoes and crews.                

The U.S.-flagged, C-Retriever, owned by U.S. marine  transport group Edison Chouest Offshore, was attacked in the  early hours of Wednesday, UK-based security firm AKE and two  security sources said. The company was not immediately available  for comment.                

In a separate incident, three Nigerian soldiers were killed  on Tuesday when armed robbers attacked a vessel carrying  construction workers in the creeks of oil-producing Rivers  state, the army said on Thursday.                

Unlike the dangerous waters off Somalia and the Horn of  Africa on the east coast of Africa, through which ships now  speed with armed guards on board, many vessels have to anchor to  do business off West African countries, with little protection.                

This makes them a soft target for criminals and jacks up  insurance costs. Kidnapped sailors and oil workers taken in  Nigerian waters are usually released after a ransom is paid.     (Reporting by Joe Brock in Abuja and Jonathan Saul in London;  additional reporting by Tife Owolabi in Yenagoa; Editing by Mark  Trevelyan)

Source: Pirates Kidnap U.S. Sailors Off Nigerian Coast