Pirates release 2 hostages taken off of Cameroon’s coast, Nigerian navy says

Pirates release hostages taken off Cameroon coast

LAGOS, Nigeria — A Nigerian naval spokesman says two sailors taken hostage by pirates off the coast of West Africa have been released.

Commodore David Nabaida says the two men were let go early Wednesday unharmed. Nabaida said he didn’t know whether a ransom had been paid for their release, though he said the pirates did demand a ransom of $10,000.

The men were kidnapped Saturday morning off the coast of a disputed Cameroonian peninsula, which once nearly sparked a war between Cameroon and neighboring Nigeria.

Militant groups want the peninsula to secede from Cameroon and are waging a low-level war against the government.

The kidnappings come as acts of piracy are increasing along the West African coast.