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Pirates Kidnap 5 From Ship Off Nigeria’s Coast

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epa05044403 A handout picture dated 30 June 2012 shows Szafir (Sapphire) Cargo Ship of Euroafrica Sea Lines as it leaves the port of Tallin, Estonia. On the night of 26 to 27 November 2015, Polish cargo ship Szafir (Sapphire) has been hijacked by Nigerian pirates the on Nigerian waters. Five Polish seamen, including captain and three officers and one seaman have been abducted from a ship and eleven other crew members escaped abduction and are safe. Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski during a press conference on Friday 27 November 2015 said that the hijackers had not established any contact yet. EPA/EUROAFRICA SEA LINES / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
A handout picture shows Szafir (Sapphire) Cargo Ship of Euroafrica Sea Lines as it leaves the port of Tallin, Estonia, on June 30, 2012.EUROAFRICA SEA LINES/EPA
By NBC News

WARSAW, Poland — Armed attackers abducted five seamen from a cargo ship in Nigerian waters, Poland’s government said Friday.

Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said the five Polish nationals, including the captain and three officers, were seized Thursday night from the ship Szafir. A further 11 crew members who barricaded themselves inside the ship were safe and in contact by phone, he said.

The Polish EuroAfrica company, the vessel’s owner, said the Cypriot-flagged ship was “attacked by armed pirates from two boats, some 35 nautical miles off the Nigerian coast.”

The five crew members were “most probably abducted by the pirates” who left after…

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