Nigerian police rescue 15 kidnapped children

By Adam Abu-bashal

ABUJA, Nigeria (AA) - Nigerian police rescued 15 children who were kidnapped in southern Rivers state, a security official said Tuesday.

River State Police Commissioner Friday Eboka said police launched an operation because of the disappearance of two children in the southern city of Port Harcourt.

The children were rescued thanks to the operation and taken to the hospital, according to Eboka, who said one woman was arrested.

The operation is still ongoing, he said.

Kidnapping is punishable by death in Nigeria but abductions for ransom are common.

Ransom payments were prohibited as part of the fight against increasing security problems in the country.