On October 24, six crew members from a container vessel were kidnapped in the Nigerian waters.
What happened?
The six kidnapped crew members comprised of four Filipinos, one Ukrainian and a Hungarian national. It is suspected that the crew members have been kidnapped for a ransom which is common in Nigeria. During the last few years, several foreigners have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta, source of most of the crude oil which is Nigeria’s economic mainstay.
Vessel attacked:
The vessel is reported to have been attacked by the pirates on early Saturday morning as it was approaching the Nigerian Port.
A spokesman for Peter Doehle Schiffahrts KG said, “The vessel was attacked by pirates on early Saturday morning when it was approaching one of the ports of Nigeria. Six of the crew were taken off the ship and they are now held by kidnappers in Nigeria”.
It is reported that there were no German nationals among the kidnapped but the spokesman declined to say where those abducted were from.
Trying to contact kidnappers:
The officials are trying to establish contact with kidnappers and the vessel had moved away from Nigerian waters with the 12 remaining crew safe.
The spokesperson added, “The top priority is to try and establish contact with the kidnappers and try to have a quick and safe release of our seafarers”.
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Source: Reuters
