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16 Indian sailors who are stranded in Equatorial Guinea have signalled for assistance. The crew has been held in the area for more than 80 days, and they are worried of being detained by the Nigerian Navy. Along central Africa’s west coast is where you may find Equatorial Guinea.
The crew requested aid and release from the authorities, alleging illegal incarceration. Earlier, the Indian embassy in Equatorial Guinea announced that representatives are closely coordinating with the governments of Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria to secure the crew of the MV Heroic Idun’s prompt release.
The Indian Embassy said that officials have been keeping an eye on their condition and promised an early resolution to the current problem.
“This Mission has maintained regular phone communication with the crew members ever since they were detained in mid-August. Additionally, they have received numerous consular visits from us. We are aggressively working to find a quick solution to the problem while constantly watching developments “declared the embassy.
In a letter to the foreign minister S. Jaishankar, the MP demanded immediate action and labelled the situation as “illegal detention.” Rahim claimed in his letter that the crew members had been taken into custody in international seas. He urged EAM Jaishankar to make sure they arrived “safely.”
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DETENTION THAT IS ILLEGAL
The owner of the ship, which was going to pick up a consignment of oil, was requested to pay a substantial fine by local officials in Equatorial Guinea, and he even did so, according to the Rajya Sabha.
“Yet the crew are yet to be released,” Rahim wrote to Jaishankar. Notably, the parliamentarian said that the crew members had not been ‘mistreated’ by African authorities.