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Lithuanian government to free abducted sailors

Xinhua, October 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Lithuanian government has set up a special working group on Tuesday to free Lithuanian seamen abducted near Nigerian shores.

Rimantas Vaitkus, the first deputy chancellor of the government, who heads the working group, said the group still hasn't received any news from the abductors.

"The abductors haven't contacted anyone, neither the owners of the ship, neither the shipping company, nor with us," Vaitkus told local journalists after the extraordinary meeting at the government.

The working group now tried to take care of the family members of the abducted seamen, informed Vaitkus.

According to Lithuanian authorities, two Lithuanian and two Ukrainian sailors were abducted while entering Nigerian Port Harcourt Monday evening.

Government officials have told Lithuanian media, the captain of the ship, his assistant and two seamen are among the abducted.

The ship was sailing under the flag of the Comoro Islands. There were 16 Lithuanian seamen on the ship, reported BNS news agency.

Lithuanian seamen have been abducted at least 3 times near African shores in recent 6 years and have been freed so far. Endit