Thai crewman kidnapped in Nigeria released safe and sound
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The Thai crewman who was kidnapped by pirates off the Nigerian coast early this month has been freed and will return to Thailand in a few days.
Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the Thai embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, confirmed that the Thai crewman kidnapped by pirates when they hijacked his ship off the Nigerian coast has been released and also undergone medical a check.
The minister said the Thai, one of the four crewmen seized from the Dutch-owned STG housing barge Jascon 33, was attacked by gunmen in the Gulf of Guinea, 60km off the Nigerian coast on August 4.
Twenty seven people were reportedly on the barge, including seven expatriate workers. Sea Truck Group, an oil and gas contractor, which provides support vessels to oil companies operating in Nigeria, confirmed that four nationals from Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, and Malaysia on its staff were kidnapped, two security guards were wounded and two Nigerian sailors were killed.
The Associated Press quoted a company spokesperson as saying that the four men were in good health when officials recovered them Wednesday night from the Niger Delta region.
She said the men received medical check-ups after their release and were safe. The company informed their families and the local consulates.
