Stop Lying! We Paid Ransom To Secure Release Of 6 Hostages In Rivers, Vessel Owners Disagree With FG, Navy

The Owners of the Vessel, ‘MT APECUS’ have disagreed with the Federal Government, the Nigerian Navy, the Police as well as the Indian Government for claiming credit over the recent release of five Indian Sailors and one Nigeria, (the Captain) kidnapped in Bonny, Rivers State.

The vessel owners, in a statement obtained by BIGPEN Online on Thursday, claimed that the hostages that were seized on April 19 and later released after two months was through the efforts of owners of the vessel who paid the demanded ransom to the hijackers.

Recall that the seafarers from the Vessel, ‘MT  APECUS’ were kidnapped and taken ashore from the Vessel in the outer anchorage in Nigeria on April 19 and regained their freedom after two months.

The Federal Government and the High Commission of India, Abuja had claimed that with the sustained efforts of various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Shipping, the Directorate General of Shipping and the High Commission of India, Abuja, the kidnapped victims were successfully released and have reached the safe custody of the authorities on June 27.

But reacting to this, the vessel owners, claimed that the federal government, the navy including Indian security personnel did not secured the release of the hostages ostensibly because one Mr Charles Marccathy, a Ghanaian national, was in the process of trying to deliver the ransom payment kidnapped by the hijackers.

They said that either the federal government, navy and Indian government were yet to secure the release or the kidnappers releasing the said victim, Marccathy two months after the incident.

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They also claimed that 17 Crew members onboard the vessel held in custody by the Nigerian Navy were yet to be release to join their families, saying that the kidnapped seafarers regained their freedom after two months in captivity as a result of their sole efforts with little or nothing done by those claiming responsibility for their release.

They frowned at the nonchalant attitude of the Federal government, the Indian Government and the security agencies during the period their staff were kidnapped and wondered why the trio are now claiming credit after they were made to paid ransom for the release of the hostages.

The Spokesman for the Vessel owners, Mr  Koffi Fripong Bue said:  “The Nigerian Government, the Navy and the Indian Government did nothing towards securing their release from captivity or if they did anything at all,   the impact was not felt because the Vessel Owners did everything possible to ensure that they were  reunited with their families”.

He added;  “Furthermore, a recent news published  by the  Nigerian Navy  alleging that “Navy Debunks alleged hijack of MT APECUS”, the  owners found this as  totally false and they wondering about the reason why the  Navy  is distributing wrong information without any supporting evidences, unless they are aware of any -internal- details for which the owners demand to  know officially”.

“The  Vessel Owners engaged the services of the locals and other stakeholders who worked round the clock in order for them to be released  and eventually after spirited efforts, they were released  after over two months in captivity. The demanded ransom was paid to the kidnappers. Those who are claiming that they secured their release did not help in any way, but we are glad that our efforts paid off as the kidnapped five Indian seafarers and the Nigerian Captain were successfully released and have reached the safe custody of Indian authorities on June 27. The India government should laud the efforts of the Vessel Owners for the great role they played in securing the release of their nationals” the Spokesman said.

He alleged,  “Instead of Nigerian Navy to go after the kidnapped victims, they went ahead to arrest the remaining crew on board of MT APECUS and their Sister Vessel,  MT  INVICTUS  and confiscated the two Sister  Vessels and also detained the remaining crew on board and up till now they are still in their custody, claiming they were on illegal business without any prove because the Vessels were empty and they were arrested inside Bonny anchorage and so we are passionately appealing  to the Nigerian Navy and all the necessary authorities to release the detained Crew Members and the two  Vessels to the  owners”.

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Meanwhile, the Vessel Owners have called for the immediate release of Mr Charles Marccathy, a Ghanaian national being held hostage by the kidnappers after releasing the seafarers.

According to the Spokesman to the owners of the Vessel, “Mr Charles MarcCathy was involved in the release of six crew members of the Vessel;  MT APECUS in Bayelsa State. When Six crew members of the Vessel, MT APECUS were kidnapped, he helped in their release. In the course of trying to rescue the victims,  the owners of the Vessel through Mr Charles Marccathy,  a Ghanaian national arranged for the ransom and exchange which was effected about midnight of June 26th, 2019”.

He added that;  “But the kidnappers after releasing the Six victims have now held Mr Charles Marccathy hostage. They are yet to  open communication with the owners of the Vessel. We are therefore appealing to the Federal Government, the DSS and other relevant security agencies to do something urgent to secure his immediate release. His abductors should set him free unconditionally and without harm”.