1 Filipino, 3 Greeks seized by pirates off Nigeria released

Pirates seized the Madonna I. SHIPSPOTTING.COM

SAN FRANCISCO — Four seamen, including a Filipino, who were abducted by pirates from the Greek-owned, Panama-flagged tanker “Madonna 1” have been released unharmed in Nigerian territory, the shipping company announced March 30.

The three Greek and one Filipino crewmen were seized in early March while the Madonna I was sailing without cargo near the coast of Nigeria, according to the Greek World Reporter. It wasn’t clear how they were released from their abductors.

The Greek ship’s captain, first engineer and an agent of the shipping company have already returned to Greece and are in good health, the company said.

The ship was sailing with a crew of 21 and the shipping firm’s agent, and was heading toward the port of Lome in Togo when it was attacked by armed pirates.

After the kidnapping of the four crewmen the ship continued its journey and the Greek Shipping ministry mobilized its crisis management team, which alerted the ministries of national defense, foreign affairs and international centers for fighting piracy to the incident.

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