Four Crew Kidnapped from German-Operated Container Ship, Released by Nigeria Pirates
Original Source: Leonhardt & Blumberg of Hamburg
Shipmanagers Leonhardt & Blumberg of Hamburg, Germany operators of container vessel "HANSA MARBURG", is pleased and relieved to report that the 4 seafarers who were taken from the vessel by armed men 130 miles south west of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea and held hostage, have now been released.
The vessel was attacked by criminal gangs in the Gulf Of Guinea on April 22 and four seafarers were taken hostage.
The four seafarers, including Ukrainian, Russian and Kiribati citizens were confirmed as being safe and in good spirits after 31 days in captivity.
Leonhardt & Blumberg is delighted that the crew members have been released and the company wishes to thank each of them for their courage and fortitude in dealing with this very difficult situation in such a professional manner; also to thank the families of those being held for their patience and courage at such a difficult and worrying time.
The Company also wishes to extend its appreciation to the governments, government agencies and all those who assisted in bringing this difficult situation to a close.
Leonhardt & Blumberg will not be releasing any further details concerning the release in order to avoid encouraging further criminal acts of this kind.
The captain, the 2nd officer, the chief engineer and a mate had been taken hostage. They have already returned to Germany where they were medically treated. The Federal German Police launched an investigation.
Confirming the development, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Angela Agabe, gave the victims names as Vadym Shytov, from Ukraine; Obaya Marak, from Kiribati; Mikhail Teresgji, from Russia and Oleksiv Ishmyetvev, from Ukraine.
The hostages were released Thursday in neighbouring Rivers State, on the outskirts of Port Harcourt, the capital of Bayelsa state.
"The four foreigners kidnapped last month in Bayelsa State were rescued by anti-kidnapping police squadron on Thursday in the Borokiri area of ??Port Harcourt," said Angela Agabe told AFP. "After being kidnapped by militants, information circulated throughout the region. We began the research, and as a result, the four men were rescued in the marshy area of Borokiri," she added.
Police say they are still searching for the kidnappers.
Security consultant Monday Osakene says the rescue operation is a rare success in a country where kidnappings usually end in ransom payments or death.
"This is the first time four foreigners are rescued from the troubled waters of Nigeria at once without any loss of life. It shows that the police are improving," he said.
He says the rescue could deter future kidnappers by proving that "it is no longer business as usual."
"It will send a signal to the pirates and kidnappers that the Nigerian police are now serious. That Nigerian police have changed their mode of operation," he said.
Following the increased incidence of kidnapping in the Gulf of Guinea, the Nigerian Navy last January introduced the idea of escorting vessels entering and exiting the country from the maritime boundary with the Republic of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. However, such incidents as Hansa Marburg demonstrate the difficulty in patrolling the region and maintaining effective maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Leonhardt & Blumberg Contact: Pat Adamson +44 7836 766 947 or +44 207 823 9444.
Subscribe to our newsletter. Receive a weekly round-up of all piracy-related news.
OCEANUSLive.org
Information, Security, Safety; Shared
Submitted by Team@oceanuslive.org