Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Sunday, July 13, 2025
    961
    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
    • Breaking News
    • Guides
    • Food & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Join the Team
    • Whatsapp
      • 961
      • 961 News
    Advertise with Us Get the App
    961
    Home»News»Lebanon News
    The Maritime Executive
    2 Mins Read

    3 Lebanese Are Being Held Hostage By Pirates In Nigeria

    By Rim ZreinDecember 1, 2020Updated:December 2, 2020
    Facebook WhatsApp Copy Link

    Lebanon’s Ambassador in Abuja, Hossam Diab, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday that the commercial ship, which went missing somewhere between Nigeria and Cameroon, had been hijacked.

    According to the Ambassador, hijackers have released the ship and two sailors, while three Lebanese and five people of other nationalities are still among the hostages.

    Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Charbel Wehbe, held Tuesday a series of contacts in efforts to unveil the fate of the three Lebanese sailors who are currently being held against their will.

    The Maritime Executive

    Within this context, Lebanon’s Ambassador to Nigeria Hossam Diab is also communicating with the Lebanese Consul in Cameroon.

    According to the Voice of Lebanon radio station (93.3), the kidnappers have asked for a ransom. The exact amount has not been made public yet.

    Up until now, details on how the kidnapping occurred remains unknown.

    Kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria, but most have occurred in its oil-rich southern city Lagos, which is home to 17.5 million inhabitants. Lagos is considered a high-risk area for travelers, and it’s always advised for citizens to remain cautious on the streets and while driving.

    They sent me to Abu Dhabi instead and sent someone else to Nigeria.

    That was a good thing for me. A group of pirates hijacked the ship and held the officers and crew for ransom. That coulda been me. 2/2

    — Michael Dorstewitz (@MikeDorstewitz) October 31, 2020

    However, the shipping industry has also warned in the past about the increasing dangers faced by seafarers sailing through the Gulf of Guinea, particularly around Nigeria.

    That includes kidnappings by pirate gangs, dubbed as “The World’s Most Violent Pirates,” who have shifted away from stealing cargoes towards extracting ransom for crews. 

    Nigeria’s north has also started to see politically-motivated kidnappings that have been lasting for a prolonged period of time. Kidnappings there have been linked to Islamic extremist groups rather than criminal gangs.

    According to Naharnet, Islamist extremist group Ansaru recently claimed to have executed seven foreign hostages, including two Lebanese.

    Currently, the fate of the three Lebanese remain in the hands of the official authority and their willingness to pay off the ransom.

    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

    For You

    uae travel ban lebanon 961

    UAE Is Officially Removing The Travel Ban On Lebanon

    Joe Issa El-Khoury 961

    Who is Joe Issa El-Khoury, Lebanon’s New Minister of Industry

    Adel Nassar 961

    Who is Adel Nassar, Lebanon’s New Minister of Justice

    Nizar Hani 961

    Who is Nizar Hani, Lebanon’s New Minister of Agriculture

    Charles Hajj 961

    Who Is Charles Hajj, Lebanon’s New Minister of Telecommunications

    Nora Bayrakdarian 961

    Who is Nora Bayrakdarian, Lebanon’s New Minister of Youth and Sports

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Had Lebanese Roots

    April 22, 2019

    Lebanon’s Shawarma Is Going Viral in The Philippines

    April 21, 2019
    caracalla one thousand and one nights

    Caracalla Just Added More Dates For “One Thousand and One Nights” & You Def Don’t Want To Miss It!

    July 5, 2025
    Lebanese boutiques

    25 Boutiques In Lebanon To Find Your Dream Evening Dress This Wedding Season

    June 9, 2024

    20 Typical Lebanese Slang Expressions

    April 21, 2020
    lebanese beer brands almaza beirut beer 961

    Lebanese Beer Brands Are Publicly Throwing Shade, And It’s Getting Frothy

    June 7, 2025

    How Mia Khalifa Became One Of The Most Outspoken Advocates For Lebanon

    August 13, 2020
    Low-Cost Lebanese Airline 961

    We Might Finally Be Getting A Low-Cost Lebanese Airline – Here’s What We Know

    June 18, 2025
    whish pay lebanon 961

    You Can Now Use Whish Pay At Shopify Stores

    June 13, 2025
    961 Logo
    Facebook WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

    Popular Topics

    • Guides
    • Eat & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Lebanon News
    • Diaspora
    • Explained

    961

    • About
    • WhatsApp Channel
    • News WhatsApp Channel
    • Corrections Policy
    • Ownership & Funding

    Services

    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • App Waitlist
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    961™ | All Rights Reserved ©2025
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.