Nine crew members were kidnapped from a ship
off the coast of Benin, the local authorities said on Sunday.
The incident happened early Saturday morning,
about nine miles from the Port of Cotonou.
Suspected pirates are reported to have boarded
the Norwegian-flagged dry bulker MV Bonita, owned by Norwegian shipping firm JJ
Ugland.
The shipping firm did not disclose the
identities of the kidnapped crew, citing safety reasons. However, the Cotonou
port authority confirmed that the ship’s captain was among those abducted.
The vessel was hauling gypsum destined for
Benin.
There has been a rise in reported cases of
abduction off the West African coast in the past few months.
According to a statement released by the
International Maritime Bureau (IMB), West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea is a
high-risk area for kidnappings and armed robbery.
Wrongful death and personal injury attorney Arin Khodaverdian, President and Managing Partner of Alpine Law Group, urges accidents victims and their families to immediately seek legal assistance. “Those who are affected by tragedy have rights, but they must act quickly in order to preserve those rights to the full extent of the law. Often, swift action by an experienced attorney is imperative in order to preserve evidence, interview witnesses and immediately begin pursuing any and all responsible parties.”
While Mr. Khodaverdian does not represent any of the parties involved in this incident, he has recovered over $100 million for thousands of injury victims and their families. “In one case, we were able to recover a 7-figure settlement within 11 business days of being hired by the family of a victim killed by a negligent driver. While this result is atypical and does not predict future outcomes, justice in this case help bring about closure and a swift sense of justice for the family.”
Mr. Khodaverdian, a contributor to this site, is available for free consultations 24/7 by calling 800-984-4123.
