Pirates Abduct 7 Russians, Ukrainian In Niger Delta

Gunmen operating within the territorial waters of Nigeria around the Niger Delta region have abducted seven Russian sailors and a Ukrainian.

Russian Embassy was said to have raised the alarm that BBC Caribbean ship was attacked by pirates within the Nigerian territorial waters.

The embassy was quoted as saying: “The BBC Caribbean Ship came under a pirate attack in the territorial waters of Nigeria. Seven Russian citizens and one Ukrainian citizen have been kidnapped from the ship.

“The Russian Embassy has asked the Nigerian authorities for assistance in establishing the whereabouts of the abducted”.

It was learnt that the vessel, described as a general cargo ship, was attacked in the Gulf of Guinea, 45 nautical miles, south-west Brass.

Specifically, the incident was said to have occurred close to the Pennington River where the pirates on a speedboat approached the ship and opened fire on them.

Though the guards on board reportedly fired back, the gunmen later overpowered the ship and seized the occupants.