Five Azerbaijanis on board of Turkish ship attacked by pirates (UPDATE)

13:58

The Azerbaijani foreign ministry has applied to the Turkish foreign ministry to assist Azerbaijani citizens on board of Turkish ship via the Turkish embassy in Nigeria.

"As Azerbaijan does not have its embassy in Nigeria, the foreign ministry applied to the Turkish foreign ministry to assist Azerbaijani citizens", press-service of the foreign ministry said.

13:52

Azerbaijani citizens on board of the Turkish vessel "Duden" which was attacked by armed pirates in Nigerian waters, were not injured, deputy head of the Azerbaijani State Maritime Administration Namik Agamaliyev said.

He said that four Azerbaijani citizens, including Mirzayev Ilgar, Dadashov Ilham, Abilov Tural and Ahmadov Tahir were on the board.

09:21

In the aftermath of the incident cook Ertan engine and a Nigerian citizen were wounded.

The cargo ship was attacked when it unloaded half of the rice bought from Thailand in Lagos port of Nigeria and was carrying the rest of the rice to Port Harcourt.

Rescue Service of Turkey’s Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs said Turkish Foreign Ministry and General Staff have been informed about the incident.

“Turkey’s embassy in Nigeria immediately contacted relevant bodies of the country and demanded to ensure the safety of the ship. Nigeria promised to fulfill the tasks.”

There are 10 Turkish citizens, 5 Azerbaijanis, 2 Georgians and 9 Nigerians on board.

Kamal Dinc, manager of Sotrans Denizcilik Sanayi Ticaret AS, said necessary measures were being taken. He said one of the injured persons did not get a bullet wound, he jumped to the deck to defend himself and hurt his arm.

“Turkish embassy in Nigeria phoned me. Nigerian Consul General to Istanbul was there, too. He informed the Nigerian president’s aide about the incident,” he said.

Turkey’s Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs also confirmed that the ship was attacked.

“But the ship was not taken hostage, it is in the open sea near Port Harcourt. It will reach land in the evening. Turkish Foreign Ministry has focused its attention on the problem.”

Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs also noted that the five Azerbaijanis on board the ship feel good.

/APA, Trend News/