Two South Koreans previously abducted by gunmen in Nigeria earlier this month have been safely liberated, according to a report by Seoul’s foreign ministry on Saturday.
The two men had been abducted after gunmen attacked their convoy in Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta on December 12, killing four Nigerian soldiers safeguarding the group and two civilian drivers.
The ministry’s statement read:
“On Friday, we obtained custody of the two kidnapped Korean citizens.”“Both individuals are presently in excellent health, and after a hospital examination, they moved to a safe area and conversed with their loved ones.”
Attacks by militants in the Niger Delta have decreased over the years. But the region is erratic and suffers from crude oil theft and destruction of pipelines, which has taken a toll on Nigeria’s crude oil output.