Nigerian pirates are being fingered as likely perpetrators of the recent attack on the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker; Duke off Benin.
Even as nothing has been heard from the attackers since last week, there are indications that the pirates may be keeping the 20 sailors off Nigeria.
Last week, a Togolese naval patrol boat made contact with the vessel, the country also denied that the ship was high jacked in Togolese waters.
There were confirmations that, the ship was actually attacked off Benin waters, a location closer to Nigeria than Togo.
Security sources are also curious that the only Nigerian crew on board the ship was not abducted, while the other 20 sailors were taken away.
Recall that, on December 15, the tanker was boarded by six pirates who kidnapped 20 of the ship’s 21 crew members. The 20 Indian seafarers were abducted, while one Nigerian cadet was left onboard.
There are feelers that the dragnets are being spread towards Nigeria, where pirates have gained notoriety in similar actions in recent past. The suspicion is further fueled by the fact that the only Nigerian sailor on board the ill-fated MV Duke was untouched by the pirates.
“Owners and managers are working closely with all the appropriate authorities and specialists to secure the safe and speedy release of the crew members being held, this being the upmost priority,” V. Ships said in a statement.
The company added that families of those kidnapped have been informed of the situation.
Described as the largest kidnapping event in West Africa within 2019, the newest incident comes less than two weeks after nineteen crew members were kidnapped in the same Gulf of Guinea.
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