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Pirates attack Turkish ship in Nigeria; kill sailor, kidnap 15

Sunday, 24 January 2021 3:08 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 24 January 2021 3:21 AM ]

This file photo shows Turkish cargo ship Paksoy-1 which was taken over two years ago in a similar attack by Nigerian pirates. (By Sabah Daily)

Pirates have attacked a Turkish cargo ship off the coast Guinea, abducting 15 people after killing an Azerbaijani sailor.

The ship, named M/V Mozart, which was traveling from Lagos to Cape Town, was sailing 100 sea miles northwest of the African island country Sao Tome when the Nigerian pirates boarded the ship, Turkish media reported.

According to initial reports, 15 out of 19 sailors have been kidnapped. Farman Ismayılov, an Azerbaijani engineer, was killed.

The Nigerian pirates are reportedly waiting for negotiations for ransom.

Kidnappings and piracy for ransom in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea are common. A similar attack occurred in 2019 when a Turkish cargo ship was attacked by Nigerian pirates, and 10 sailors, all Turkish nationals, were taken hostage for ransom.

Later, all sailors were released.

10 Turkish sailors kidnapped in pirate attack off Nigeria

Armed pirates have kidnapped 10 Turkish sailors off the coast of Nigeria.

In 2019, the International Maritime Bureau described the Gulf of Guinea as the most dangerous area in the world for piracy. It said 73 percent of all sea kidnappings and 92% of hostage-takings took place in the Gulf of Guinea.

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