Captured Russian sailors return home

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that the Russian sailors have returned to their homeland after being captured by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to information from the Russian Embassy in Abudja, on January 28 the crew of the Mandi container ship, which the pirates had been holding since January 2, was released.

The Russian Foreign Ministry added that Moscow expressed its appreciation to those who contributed to release the Russian sailors.

On January 2, the pirates attacked the ship, sailing 20 miles off the coast of Benin, and captured it carrying 24 people, including 23 Russian citizens. The attack resulted in the capturing of six Russian citizens.

The embassy gave no further details on the release of the sailors.