The sailors of the Szafir liberated. A ransom paid
(B2) The five Polish sailors from the szafir, abducted on November 27, have been released, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo announced at a press conference in Warsaw on Tuesday (December 8), thanking the Nigerian authorities, Polish consular staff and the owner. The captain, the 3 officers and a sailor were repatriated immediately. The sailors were repatriated the next day. They landed in Hamburg on Wednesday from where they departed for Szczecin, the Baltic port where they originated.
Negotiations started quickly
Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski welcomed this " happy ending after two weeks " A " priority for Polish diplomacy, which had set up an interministerial crisis unit in Warsaw and dispatched consular reinforcements to Abuja. Which, indeed, is fast but quite common in Nigerian piracy where the objective is not to keep hostages but to quickly obtain 'compensation'
A ransom probably paid
« Discussions have been undertaken by the local authorities with the kidnappers. Contact was quickly established. Without specifically stating that a ransom had been paid, Waszczykowski added however. " Negotiations with the kidnappers (were) tedious and difficult ". A little later, the minister acknowledged, in half-words, questioned by our colleagues from radio 1, that liberation was not just about the art of negotiation. " The life of the Poles, the life of the sailors is priceless. Let's stick to this explanation he clarified.
Open investigation
An investigation has been opened by the Szczecin prosecutor. In recent years, however, the Polish courts have never, to our knowledge, had to try pirates, nor has Poland requested their extradition. However, several Poles were among the sailors attacked or taken hostage by Somali pirates sailing on ships of different nationalities (Sirius star, Bow Asir, St James Park, MV Beluga Nomination...) according to the "Piracy" database of B2.
(NGV)
Read also: 5 Polish sailors hostage to the pirates. Nigerian piracy still active (upd3).
