By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Two German archeologists were abducted Wednesday in Nigeria's northwestern Kaduna state, local police have confirmed.
“We can confirm the abduction of the Germans in the Kagarko area [of Kaduna] and the anti-kidnapping squad is currently on the trail of the criminal,” a police spokesman Aliyu Usman told Anadolu Agency late Wednesday.
Professor Peter Breunig and his associate Johannes Behringer are part of a four-man team from the Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany.
Local media said the two were abducted while their Nigerian colleagues - two women - were left unharmed.
Abductions are common in parts of Nigeria, namely in Kaduna.
The government's bid to route all Abuja-bound air travel through Kaduna from March -- on account of construction work on the Abuja airport runway -- has drawn criticism mostly because of security concerns.
Several major airline operators have said they would not be flying to the Kaduna airport.