Seven Russian seamen are among the 12 people taken hostage during an attack on their ship near the oil-rich Niger River delta, the Ekho Moskvy radio station said, citing the Nigerian navy.
The BBC Palonia vessel, flying the German flag, was attacked at about 21:00 Moscow time (17:00 GMT) on Friday near the southeastern Nigerian city of Bonny.
There were reports of another vessel being attacked in the area, but no other information is available in the moment.
Along with Russians, two Germans were also captured, as well as nationals of Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine. A Ukrainian was reported to be injured in the attack.
Editor-in-chief of the Maritime Bulletin magazine Mikhail Voitenko told the radio station that attacks on ships were a "normal practice" for many militant groups operating in Nigeria.
He said that though Nigerians generally treat their hostages "quite leniently," though they are believed to be crueler to their prisoners than Somali pirates.
Attacks on foreigners by militants, who demand that locals get more of the country's oil wealth, are frequent in the area since 2006. Kidnappings for ransom are also common.
MOSCOW, July 4 (RIA Novosti)
