Egypt says coordinating to secure release of Egyptians held hostage by pirates in Nigeria

CAIRO – 2 December 2020: The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said it ordered its embassy in Abuja to coordinate with Nigerian authorities to ensure that Egyptians kidnapped by pirates off Nigerian shores are immediately released.

Two Egyptian citizens, an officer and an engineer were kidnapped, along with other people of different nationalities, as they were onboard of a cargo ship, local media reported on Tuesday.

The kidnappers asked for ransom.

“The Foreign Ministry immediately communicated with our embassy in Abuja to be briefed on the circumstances and last updates of the situation,” a statement by the ministry on Wednesday read.

“Instructions were issued to our embassy there to communicate with all officials at the highest level, to follow up on ensuring the safety of kidnapped Egyptian citizens and to coordinate with Nigerian authorities, with the aim of making all possible efforts and taking all ways in a bid to [secure] their immediate release”.

The ministry said in would continue communication with all concerned authorities in Nigeria, through the Egyptian embassy, to secure the citizens’ safety and immediate release.

The embassy has earlier known that the incident took place around 15 nautical miles off the southernmost state of Bayelsa in Nigeria.