Charles Muka

Nigerian police have freed international footballer Christian Obodo unhurt during a raid, a day after gunmen kidnapped him in front of a church and demanded a ransom, a spokesman said Monday.

Nigerian police have freed international footballer Christian Obodo unhurt and without a ransom paid in a raid following his kidnapping in the country's south at the weekend, authorities said Monday.

Nigerian police on Sunday vowed to rescue international footballer Christian Obodo, who is said to be unhurt after being kidnapped near the oil city of Warri on Saturday.

Rioting in two southern Nigerian cities Thursday over a police killing forced Muslims to take shelter at barracks over fears they would be targeted in reprisal attacks.

YENAGOA, Nigeria (Reuters) - A U.S. citizen working for Marubeni Corp who was kidnapped in Nigeria's oil rich Niger Delta on January 20 has been released, police and the U.S. embassy said Friday.

A US expatriate worker who was kidnapped by Nigerian gunmen in the oil-rich Niger Delta region on January 20 has been released, his embassy and police said Friday.

PORT HARCOURT (Reuters) - Gunmen kidnapped an American working for Marubeni Corp in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta region on Friday, killing his driver and demanding a 50 million naira ($310,300) ransom, police and a security source said.

Iran calls for Israel to be "punished"

The ruling party candidate has won a key state governor's election in Nigeria's oil-producing region, officials said Friday, in a vote seen as a major test ahead of April's nationwide polls.

Nigerians voted Thursday in a key state governor's ballot seen as a test ahead of April's nationwide elections, with massive security deployed after recent attacks but no major violence reported.

Nigerians voted on Thursday in a key state governor's ballot seen as a test ahead of April's nationwide elections, with massive security deployed amid fears of further violence.