A fishing vessel carrying 18 crew members has been hijacked by armed men, some of whom were initially contracted to provide security for the ship. Reinforced by additional pirates, the attackers are now demanding a ransom for the crew’s release, according to local authorities.
The vessel, which was first reported as hijacked earlier this week, is being moved along the coast by the pirates. Mohamed Dini, a police officer from Eyl, stated that the perpetrators are actively seeking a safe haven to avoid capture. Eyl, located on Puntland’s eastern coast, has long been associated with pirate operations in the region.
Local fishermen reported that the ship briefly approached the coast on Friday but retreated out of fear of an encounter with Puntland’s coastguards. “They are also avoiding foreign military ships patrolling the area,” said Abdirahman Said, a fisherman familiar with the situation.
A Somali company acting on behalf of the vessel offered a $300,000 ransom, but the pirates rejected the proposal. The European Union’s Atalanta anti-piracy force confirmed it is monitoring the situation, classifying the incident as an armed robbery at sea. In a statement, the mission reassured that the crew remains unharmed.
This hijacking comes amid a recent rise in pirate activity in the Indian Ocean, following a years-long decline. In March, Somali pirates seized a Bangladeshi cargo ship carrying over 55,000 tonnes of coal. That ship was released only after its owners paid a ransom, reportedly dropped in cash sacks from an aircraft.
Experts are concerned about a resurgence of piracy in the region, as international naval forces have reduced their presence. The current security gaps appear to be enabling opportunistic attacks, raising fears of further incidents in the months ahead.