“The ship was indeed captured by pirates, but this occurred outside the territorial waters of Benin,” ambassador Aniset Gabriel Kochofa confirmed, as quoted by TASS.
“According to various estimates, there may be up to four Russian citizens on board.”
Earlier reports had given the figure as 18 Russians and two Ukrainians.
Piracy is widespread on the African coast, with Nigeria in the west and the Horn of Africa in the east being particularly troublesome hotspots.
Benin embassy confirms seizure of Russian citizens by pirates
01 December 2016
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The Embassy of Benin in Moscow has confirmed that the Greek-flagged ship ‘Saronic Breeze’ was captured by pirates on November 29 with a number of Russian and Ukrainian citizens on board, but has said that the attack took place outside Benin’s territorial waters.
