Somali Pirates Say Hijacked Ship MV Abdullah Released After Payment of $5m Ransom
Somali pirates recently freed the MV Abdullah, a vessel they had hijacked, along with its 23 crew members, in a development confirmed by two of the pirates themselves.
The release followed the payment of a $5 million ransom, marking a common practice in such situations.
According to Abdirashiid Yusuf, one of the pirates involved, the ransom was delivered two nights before the release.
The money underwent scrutiny to ensure its authenticity before being divided among the pirates.
They then departed discreetly, evading any potential interference from government forces.
Importantly, Yusuf noted that the ship was returned unharmed, along with its full complement of crew.
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Despite these events, the Somali government remained silent in response to requests for comment on the matter.
The MV Abdullah, a bulk carrier flying the flag of Bangladesh, was seized in March while en route from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates.
The incident occurred approximately 600 nautical miles to the east of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
Somali pirates had previously posed a significant threat to maritime traffic in the region from around 2008 to 2018. After a period of relative calm, piracy activities resurged toward the end of the previous year.
Observers suggest that various factors, such as lax security measures and the turmoil caused by other regional conflicts, including attacks on shipping by Yemen’s Houthi rebels and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, may have emboldened the pirates to resume their activities.
Somali Pirates Say Hijacked Ship MV Abdullah Released After Payment of $5m Ransom