A total of eight seafarers have been kidnapped by Nigerian pirates from their vessel BBC Caribbean in Nigerian waters
The kidnapping took place when three speedboats and one tug with 10 gunmen armed with automatic weapons approached and boarded the merchant vessel.
According to the Embassy of Russian Federation in Nigeria, which confirmed the abduction, the pirates abducted seven citizens of Russia and a citizen of Ukraine from the 2008-built general cargo ship while it was some 120 nautical miles west-southwest of Bonny Island, the vessel’s owner, German-based Briese Schiffahrt.
Sources confirmed that the 6,229 dwt ship was attacked on February 5, at about 10:00 am local time, while it was on its way without cargo from Duala, Cameroon to Tema, Ghana.
“The remaining crew was left on the vessel and are underway to a safe location,” Briese Schiffahrt said, adding that the families of the crew have been informed about the incident.
The company has put together a team which is working closely with the German authorities to resolve the situation soon, “aiming to ensure a safe and secure evacuation of the kidnapped crew.”
The Russian Embassy asked the Nigerian authorities for assistance in locating the abducted seafarers.
An investigation into the attack has been launched.
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