Nigerian military hunts for Indian hostage

Abuja, Jul 8 (PTI) The Nigerian military has launched
a manhunt to secure the release of an Indian sailor along with
five foreign crew members of a chemical tanker seized by
militants in the restive Niger Delta region.

Rabe Abubakar, the spokesman for the Joint Military
Force (JTF) told PTI that his force is doing everything
possible to secure the release of the crew.

He said the vessel "Siehem Peace" -- in which Indian
sailor Banjit Singh Dhindsa was a crew member -- has been
rescued by the JTF, established by the Nigerian government to
fight the militants.

However, the crew was still with the hostage takers,
Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), he said.

"We're hunting for the hostages but we have to be
careful. Meanwhile, we have arrested 3 suspected militants who
attacked Forcados in Warri and we are asking them what they
know about the present operation. They had chemicals and other
weapons with them," Abubakar said.

Cadet Dhindsa was captured alongside other crew
members from different countries, namely Captain Yuriy
Shastim, Chief Engineer Vasvi Bondarkov and 2nd Engineer
Viktor Koshevoy from Russia; Arivando Galima and Tavares
Rouirgo from Philippines. PTI Corr
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