The merchant ship, MT LEON DIAS that was allegedly hijacked by gunmen is current off the Coast of Cotonou in the Benin Republic.
Nigerian military sources disclosed that the ship which is a chemical/oil tanker is currently under the custody of the Beninois Navy.
A text from a top security source said: “The name of the ship is MT LEON DIAS (9279927). An oil tanker, the ship is presently in Benin waters, about 7.5 nautical miles off Cotonou Port and is under the watch of the Benin Republic Navy.”
The officer told PRNigeria that “Benin Republic is in a better position to provide details on the Ship since it is not on Nigerian coastal region”
There has been different reports speculating location of the ship.
It would be recalled that Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, one of the alleged mastermind of the hostage-taking, Tuesday denied reports that it carried out the act.
Its spokesman, Uchenna Madu, also dismissed the allegation that the group threatened to blow up the ship.
He said MASSOB is non-violent and have no weapon to hold any ship hostage, let alone seizing and threatening to blow it with its passengers.
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