UNCERTAINTY OVER LIVES OF NIGERIAN SAILORS ABOARD MT ROYAL GRACE

•    One Nigerian Sailor Already Dead
The diplomatic stand-off between Somali pirates who held about 17 Indian sailor captives and the Indian government reached a crescendo last weekend as the pirates threatened to drown the Indian sailors ‘one by one’ unless Indian government releases the Somali pirates being held in India  in exchange.

•    One Nigerian Sailor Already Dead
The diplomatic stand-off between Somali pirates who held about 17 Indian sailor captives and the Indian government reached a crescendo last weekend as the pirates threatened to drown the Indian sailors ‘one by one’ unless Indian government releases the Somali pirates being held in India  in exchange.
The 22 hostages, which included 17 Indians, three Nigerians, a Pakistani and a Bangladeshi, were taken on the Dubai-based MT Royal Grace ship in March, when sailing from Sharjah to Nigeria.
The vessel is part of Oyster Cargo and Shipping, which is owned by a Nigerian businessman based in Dubai.
The Master of the ill-fated recently emailed the owners stating that one of the crewmembers had been killed, but did not give a cause of death. Sources close to the captors of the vessel confirmed that the deceased crewmember is a Nigerian, a fact that was corroborated by relations of the 17 Indians, who confirmed that one of the three Nigerians has already died due to a lack of medication.
While relatives of the Indian sailors have been mounting pressure on their government to save the life of their kinsmen, no word has been heard about the Nigeria sailors, neither is their identities known.
"We got a call and we were clearly told that they were giving us until November 30 or that was the end," said Sharmishta, a relative of a family member on board.
"They told us to ask our governments or they will start on the men, one by one. Now only governments can help us because none of us can ever pay the ransom and the ship's owner has told us that they don't have the money. It is very clear that if the money is not paid, they will not survive.
"Their lives are dependent on someone talking to the pirates. We don't have any contacts in the UAE or Nigeria, so we are appealing through the media."
The pirates have demanded US$2 million to release the crew and ship.
There has been no official reaction from the Nigerian government to the almost eight months ordeal of the sailors.