Two Turkish citizens, who were kidnapped earlier this month in the southern Nigerian city of Eket, have been successfully rescued by police.

The two had been working for BKS Construction Company in Onna Local Government Area when they were taken from their hotel room April 9. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 200 million naira ($655,000).

Vice President of the provincial police organization, Chukwu Okechukwu, said that the two Turkish citizens were rescued by police April 19.

"No casualty was recorded during their rescue but five suspects were arrested. No ransom was paid, and investigations are ongoing. The Turks have been reunited with their families," Okechukwu stated.

Kidnappings for ransom had been common in certain parts of the country, especially around the Niger Delta until 2009, when government amnesty drastically reduced unrest.

However, the region has seen a militant resurgence since 2016, which is affecting Nigeria's oil output during a period of global low crude prices, hurting government revenue and forcing Africa's most populous country into a recession. An ongoing government truce with rebel groups has significantly ramped up the nation's oil production.