MEND Claims Responsibility for Kidnap of US Sailors

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The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and release for ransom of two American sailors off the Nigerian coast.

A statement purporting to come from MEND Sunday said it received $2million ransom for the sailors, mostly from the Nigerian authorities.

According to Associated Press (AP), United States officials had identified the mariners as the Captain and Chief Engineer of the US-flagged C-Retriever offshore supply vessel taken in the October 23 attack.

Analysts believe the militant group has lost much of its operational capability, but oil pipeline attacks and kidnappings are still common in the Niger Delta region.

Almost all foreigners kidnapped are released once ransoms are paid.