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Pirates Release 5 Polish, Russian Crew Taken From Ship Off Nigeria

ABUJA — Pirates have released five Polish and Russian crew members they kidnapped from a cargo ship off the coast of Nigeria last month, the vessel's management company said.

The hostages were taken when the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged MV City of Xiamen container ship was attacked late April 25 about 160 kilometers off Nigeria's coast.

"Despite difficult conditions while in captivity, they are in good health. They already returned to their own countries and reunited with their families," Sunship Schiffahrtskontor KG, the ship's German operator, said in a statement.

The firm did not say if a ransom was paid, but this has been the case in the past.

The International Maritime Bureau had said 14 heavily armed pirates attacked the container ship, breaching its citadel, a strong room designed to protect the crew from attack.

(Reuters)

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