Pirates Kidnap 2 Americans

Pirates have kidnapped two Americans after attacking an oil supply ship off the Nigerian coast, according to a US defense official. The 222-foot C-Retriever was attacked yesterday morning; a captain and engineer were taken, and the AP reports it is believed they were brought ashore. The incident occurred in the international waters of the Gulf of Guinea, a location that Reuters reports has seen pirate attacks increase by a third this year.

While ships traveling off Somalia and the Horn of Africa rush through those dangerous waters on Africa's east coast, Reuters notes that many ships are forced to anchor off West African countries in order to conduct business there. The State Department and FBI are currently taking the helm on the US response. (More pirates stories.)