By Rafiu Ajakaye 

Lagos Nigeria

Six crew members of a German container ship have been kidnapped in waters off the southern coast of Nigeria, according to a maritime security consultancy firm Sea Guidance. 

The firm said on its website that the crew members were abducted by pirates who later left the ship with their captives. 

“Container ship DEMETER was attacked by pirates at around 0600UTC [GMT] Oct 21 [...], south of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Bight of Bonny, while en route from Malabo Equatorial Guinea to Monrovia, Liberia,” said the firm. 

“Pirates boarded the ship, kidnapped six crew, including master, chief officer, second officer, second engineer, bosun and cook, and then left DEMETER. According to report, there were eight pirates on a black speedboat. Remaining 12 crew reported unhurt, the ship resumed sailing, ETA,” it added. 

Local police spokesman Omoni Nnamdi said authorities consider the development as a “rumor for now”. 

“I cannot confirm the development for now. Our command is unable to confirm the incident because we have contacted all the units and none has confirmed it yet,” Nnamdi told Anadolu Agency by phone.