Three Russian crew members of a cargo ship have been abducted by pirates near the port of Douala in southern Cameroon, the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday said.
The cargo ship “Marmalaita” belonging to the Danish company, Ultrabulk carrying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, was attacked by unknown people on Thursday.
Altogether, eight crew members were kidnapped, the ministry said in a statement.
According to the Russian Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroonian authorities and representatives of the ship-owner company are taking steps to clarify the incident, the statement said.
Russian diplomats are actively working with Cameroonian authorities and the ship-owner to facilitate the quick release of the Russian citizens, it said.