Pirates Abduct Five Indian Sailors In Nigeria; Sushma Swaraj Asks Indian High Commissioner To Secure Their Release

Nigerian pirates have abducted five Indian sailors, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj responding swiftly to demand that the Indian High Commissioner there to look into the matter and take it up to higher authorities in the Nigerian government to secure their release, reports The Hans India.

She also asked the Indian ambassador to Nigeria, Abhay Thakur, to keep her updated on this matter.

"I have seen news reports about abduction of five Indian sailors by pirates in Nigeria. I am asking Indian High Commissioner to take this up at the highest level with Government of Nigeria for their release, Abhay -- Please take this up and send me a report,” the minister tweeted.

Nigerian pirates are known to have a noticeable presence in the Gulf of Guinea, which is one of the main hotbeds of piracy near the African continent, the other being the waters off the coast of horn of Africa, being affected by the presence of Somali pirates.