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| File Photo |
The six seafarers who were kidnapped
at the Bonny Outer Anchorage last month are still missing. Five were Indian
nationals, and their families are calling upon the Indian government to
intervene.
at the Bonny Outer Anchorage last month are still missing. Five were Indian
nationals, and their families are calling upon the Indian government to
intervene.
At 1330 hours in the afternoon of
April 19, Nigerian pirates boarded the product tanker Apecus while she lay at
anchor just off the Coast of Bonny Island, a well-defended oil and gas complex
in the Niger River Delta.
In broad daylight, the attackers abducted six
seafarers and departed. The remaining crew-members were unharmed, and they
navigated their vessel to the Bonny Inner Anchorage.
seafarers and departed. The remaining crew-members were unharmed, and they
navigated their vessel to the Bonny Inner Anchorage.
Relative
to areas further offshore, the Bonny anchorage has a more established security
presence.
to areas further offshore, the Bonny anchorage has a more established security
presence.
The Nigerian Navy maintains a forward operating base on Bonny
Island to defend the Bonny Oil Terminal, and the service’s Regional
Maritime Awareness Center is located near the Bonny Island approach
channel.
Island to defend the Bonny Oil Terminal, and the service’s Regional
Maritime Awareness Center is located near the Bonny Island approach
channel.
The
victims, all Indian nationals, have been missing for nearly two weeks. India’s
embassy in Nigeria says that it is working closely with the Nigerian Navy and
police forces to recover the seafarers.
victims, all Indian nationals, have been missing for nearly two weeks. India’s
embassy in Nigeria says that it is working closely with the Nigerian Navy and
police forces to recover the seafarers.
“Concerned
parties have made initial contact. Caution is of utmost importance for
everyone’s safety,” said the High Commission of India in Abuja.
parties have made initial contact. Caution is of utmost importance for
everyone’s safety,” said the High Commission of India in Abuja.
According
to the Times of India, the seafarers’ families have not yet been able to speak
to the abductees and have not received updates on their condition.
to the Times of India, the seafarers’ families have not yet been able to speak
to the abductees and have not received updates on their condition.
Maritime-Executive.
