Dare -devil gunmen on Monday abducted about six Turkish crew on board an oil tanker, MT Puli around 1:30am enroute Douala port to Abidjan port.
This is coming barely three weeks after a set of dare-devil pirates attacked a Liberia-flag tanker; MT Sampatiki, and abducted five of her crew. There whereabouts is still unknown.
Daily Trust reliably learnt that the gunmen, about eight in number, attacked the vessel, about 118 nautical miles off Port Harcourt waters.
All six abducted crew were said to be Turkish. There abduction was first broken early Monday morning in the Turkish media.
Confirming the attack yesterday, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said “the pirates stole cash, ship’s properties, crew personal belongings and escaped with the kidnapped crew.
“The remaining crew members aboard the tanker reached a safe port. The pirates have reportedly commenced negotiations for an undisclosed ransom for the kidnapped crew” IMB said.
The 2007-built, 15,800 dwt, 10544grt tanker is owned by the Turkish shipping company Kaptanoglu.
Prior to Monday’s attack, there had been an equally successful attack on another tanker MT Sampatiki on March 26, where five crew members were kidnapped.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said it had sought the help of Interpol Regional Bureau and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC ,to assist on the rescue.
Director-General of the agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, assured that the agency would leave no stone un-turned in its efforts to ensure that the five crew members were rescued alive.
Dr. Peterside has also expressed the agency’s desire to work with other stakeholders and expedite action on the passage of the Anti-Piracy and Other Rrelated Crimes at Sea Bill into law.
A statement sent to Shipping Position Daily yesterday and signed by the Deputy Director, Public Relations of NIMASA; Hajia Lami Tumaka quoted him as such.