By Rescue Mission For Hijacked Swiss Vessel In – NIMASA
Amosu Jeremiah
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Academy, Dr. Dakuku Peterside has confirmed the commencement of a search mission to rescue the abducted 12 crew members onboard a Swiss Vessel, MV Glarus owned by Alison Shipping which was a victim of hijack off Bony Island, Rivers state on Saturday.
The ship was reported to be loaded with wheat to Port Harcourt when it was hijacked by a pirate gang on board the Glarus by means of long ladders and cutting of the razor wire on deck.
It is also added that the intruders struck 45 neutical miles from Bonny Island in the Niger Delta, and had destroyed much of the vessel’s communications equipment.
While speaking yesterday in Lagos, Dr Dakuku Peterside, opened that NIMASA is working hand in glove with the Forward Operation Base and the Falcon Eye of the Nigerian Navy along with other key securities agencies to ensure the release of the kidnapped.
The maritime agency’s boss also condemned the act.
“The issue of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is a challenge we acknowledge and we are determined to tackle it head-on. We will continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Navy and other relevant partners to ensure we bring it to halt” he said.
Earlier, the agency had listed the nationalities of the kidnapped victims to include; Philippines, Slovenia, Ukraine, Romania, Croatia and Bosnia.
