By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria

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.