Russia pledges to find citizens kidnapped in the Gulf of Guinea

FILE PHOTO: The spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry Maria Zakharova at a past briefing. /Photo courtesy: MFA Russia.

Russia will make every effort to find and free Russian nationals who were kidnapped by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry Maria Zakharova said.

The pledge comes following an abduction of seven Russians and other nationals in a pirate attack on the Curacao Trader vessel on 17 July, some 210 nautical miles away from Benin's coast.

"The Russian embassies in Abuja and Cotonou are constantly in contact with relevant Nigerian and Beninese agencies as well as representatives of the ship owner company. No efforts are spared to locate the kidnapped Russians and release them," said Zakharova.

TASS news agency reports that the 17 July incident was carried out by eight armed individuals.

"They are yet to put forward any demands. On July 19, the ship anchored near the port of Cotonou," said Zakharova.

Alison Management Corp., the ship operator, also pledged that "no effort shall be spared" to free the crew members.

Africa's Gulf of Guinea stretching from Senegal in the north to Angola in the south has become the most dangerous region in the world in terms of pirate attacks. According to TASS, the first quarter of 2020 saw 45% of all global piracy assaults taking place there.