According to Seoul’s foreign ministry, two South Koreans who were kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria earlier this month have been released safely.
The two men were abducted after their convoy was ambushed by gunmen in Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta on Dec. 12, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers guarding the group and two civilian drivers.
In a statement, the ministry announced, “On Friday, we secured custody of the two abducted Korean citizens.”
The ministry also reported, “Both people are currently in good health, and after a hospital checkup, they moved to a safe area and spoke with their families.”
The Niger Delta has experienced decreased attacks by militants in recent years. However, the region remains volatile and continues to suffer from crude oil theft and vandalism of pipelines, which has significantly impacted Nigeria’s oil output.
(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin: Editing by Neil Fullick)
