Ghanaian, 4 others held hostage by Nigerian pirates

Five persons on board a Ghanaian fishing vessel, which was allegedly hijacked on Monday, have been taken hostage by the pirates.

The five include three Koreans, a Ghanaian and a Greek.

The hijackers are suspected to be Nigerians.

Forty three sailors have however been rescued by the Ghana Navy.

The vessel, Marine 711, with official No. 316694, and registration No. AFT28 has also been successfully rescued and is currently at berth 10 at the Tema Port.

Briefing the media, the Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command of the Ghana Navy, Commodore James O. Kontoh said the pirates in a speed boat approached and boarded a ship at anchorage in the Tema Port area.

He said after forcefully taking over the vessel, they sailed eastwards towards Togo but abandoned the vessel when it run short of fuel.

They however took along the Greek national and a Ghanaian sailor and went on to hijack another vessel.

Commodore Kontoh said the pirates now in control of a second captured vessel, asked the crew to head towards Bayelsa in Nigeria. However, operators of also said they had inadequate fuel to make the journey.

He said the pirates thus abandoned the second vessel and hijacked the fishing vessel, Marine 177 and headed towards Benin.

He said the crew on board the fishing vessel managed to send out a distress signal which was picked up by the Ghana Navy which dispatched a ship to rescue them.

He said before the Navy arrived, the pirates managed to escape in a small boat with a total of five sailors made up of the three Koreans, a Greek and a Ghanaian.