Nigeria international Christian Obodo has been rescued from his kidnappers by police, his club confirmed today.

Obodo, who plys his trade domestically with Udinese in Italy, was taken by a group of armed men while on his way to church on Saturday morning.

The incident took place in the 28-year-old's home city of Warri, Nigeria. The kidnappers demanded a ransom for his release, but police were able to track him down before anything was paid.

A statement from Udinese read: "Thanks to his mobile phone signal, Obodo's position was identified and the police were able to act to free him without needing to pay a ransom."

The Nigeria international said after his release: "I thank God that I am free."

Obodo, who has won 21 caps for his country, is not the first football-related person to be abducted in Nigeria. John Obi Mikel's father was kidnapped in August of last year, but was eventually found alive.