YENAGOA, Nigeria, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- A group of 10 gunmen have allegedly asked for $1.27 million in exchange for returning six oil workers kidnapped Thursday, Nigerian officials said.
The six men -- three Ukrainians, two Indians and one Russian -- were allegedly attacked by the gunmen aboard their vessel, the Armada Tuah 101, Nigerian newspaper the National Mirror reported. The men worked for Century Group of Company, Oil and Servicing and Marine.
Fidelis Odunna, the Bayelsa State Police public relations officer, confirmed the abduction and ransom demand and said officials were attempting to find the kidnappers.
"We have already dispatched our men to track down the kidnappers," he said. "Contact has been established with them and they are asking for [$1.27 million]."
Bayelsa Gov. Seriake Dickson recently signed a law making kidnapping punishable by death, Nigerian newspaper The Leadership reported.
