Togo has arrested eight pirates after thwarting a tanker hijacking.

Two Togolese and six Nigerians were held in an operation on Sunday, the government said on its website.

The gunmen reportedly rented a canoe to launch the raid on a Togolese-flagged ship named as Djetona 1 at anchorage off Lome.

They boarded the vessel and took the crew hostage.

The tanker was intercepted by the navy and forced to return to Lome.

The crew were not harmed.

“Early intervention of the navy patrol vessels thwarted the attack,” the statement said.