Russia’s embassy in Nigeria confirmed on Thursday that the Greek-owned oil tanker Leon Dias has been hijacked in the Gulf of Guinea, reports TASS.
There are reports that the oil tanker hijacked by suspected militants from the Niger Delta has been freed and is now located some 7.5 nautical miles near the Cotonou Port in Benin.
The merchant ship, MT LEON DIAS that was allegedly hijacked by gunmen is current off the Coast of Cotonou in the Benin Republic.
Nigerian military sources disclosed that the ship which is a chemical/oil tanker is currently under the custody of the Beninois Navy.
"The name of the ship is MT LEON DIAS. An oil tanker, the ship is presently in Benin waters, about 7.5 nautical miles off Cotonou Port and is under the watch of the Benin Republic Navy," local media reports quoting unnamed sources.
The tanker was hijacked near the Port of Cotonou on 29 January. The hijackers warned they would blow up the cargo unless the Nigerian government released pro-Biafran leader Nnamdi Kanu within 31 days.
The hijackers took five people with them – the captain, chief engineer, third engineer, the electrician and a fitter – according to AP, which added the five crew members are still being held hostage in Nigeria.
Earlier on Thursday, the maritime security director of Denmark-based Risk Intelligence, Dirk Steffen, told The Associated Press that the crew members from Russia, Georgia and the Philippines were probably held by an armed group for ransom.