Nigerian police have rescued three Indian sailors who were kidnapped from a cargo ship off the coast of Equatorial Guinea last month.

The Equatorial Guinea-owned MV San Miguel was attacked by pirates on January 3. The Nigerian state security services said in a statement yesterday: "On January 30 2014, this service in collaboration with the military rescued three Indians … No ransom was paid for their release."

Most acts of piracy in West Africa are carried out by Nigerian gangs, who usually steal the cargo, often fuel, and rob or kidnap crew.