'All crew members safe': India on 16 sailors detained in Africa

India has said that it is in touch with authorities in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria to secure the early release of 16 Indian sailors of a merchant ship that was detained in August.

The Indian embassy in Equatorial Guinea said it has been in regular contact with the crew members over phone and assured that they are all safe. It added that the sailors have been shifted back to the ship from the detention centre where they were being held.

A Norwegian ship along with 26 crew members was arrested in international waters on August 12, 2022 by Equatorial Guinea on the request of Nigeria. Out of the 26 crew members 16 are Indians, 8 Sri Lankans, 1 Polish and 1 Filipino.

'Since their detention in mid-August, this Mission has been in regular contact with the crew members over phone. We have also had several consular access/ visits to them. We are closely monitoring developments and are actively engaged for an early resolution of the issue,' the embassy said.

Earlier, the 16 Indian sailors had issued a video statement appealing for help. They said after being arrested in international waters on August 12, they were brought ashore on August 14 under naval escort and threat of lethal action against the vessel and crew if orders are not complied.

The crew members said that on the night of August 8, a vessel claiming to be Nigerian Navy asked merchant ship Heroic Idun to follow them. Heroic Idun's crew was however unable to confirm the identity of the vessel after checking with various shipping and port autohrities and therefore sailed out of the location at full speed fearing a pirate attacked.

The crew claims that they were informed on August 9 that the unidentified ship was Nigerian Navy.

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