yenagoa: Six foreign sailors kidnapped by pirates earlier this month off the coast of Nigeria's oil-producing region have been released unharmed.

One Russian, three Ukrainian and two Indian sailors were taken when gunmen stormed aboard the Armada Tuah 40 miles off the coast of Bayelsa state on February 17.

Bayelsa police chief Kingsley Omire said: "They were released unharmed and no ransom was paid."