Nigerian pirates are demanding a ransom of $1.3 million in exchange for the release of eight hostages held in the Gulf of Guinea.
Hijackers initially demanded a sum of 800 million Naira – more than $2m – but have since been negotiated down to 500 million naira, approximately $1.3 million.
A group known as the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers are believed to be behind the act of piracy.
The Milano 1 cargo ship was hijacked last Thursday morning. Ten crew members were on board.
The vessel, registered in St Kitts but operated by a Lebanese firm, had been contracted by a Nigerian company to transport glass between Nigeria and Cameroon.
The ship was soon released, but only two crew members were freed. Three Lebanese, one of them the ship’s captain, and two Egyptians are among the eight hostages left.
Lebanon’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Houssam Diab said that the hostage takers were now in direct contact and negotiating with the businessman who had hired the ship.
“This was not a kidnapping with the intention to kill, it was with the intention of getting a ransom.”
He added that “authorities are unsure if they are still being held at sea or ashore”.
Ahmad Al Kut, the ship’s Lebanese owner, told Al Watan newspaper that he had received a number of untraceable calls from the pirates to open negotiations.
He claimed to have offered to sell the ship to meet the ransom demand.
“Let the Lebanese state buy my ship and pay the ransom for the three Lebanese sailors, and I do not want a penny, nor do I want to recover my ship,” he said.
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