Mogadishu: Six Indian nationals are among the 10-member crew of a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship that was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia earlier this week. The vessel, identified as the M/V LUTUF, was actively transporting Turkish weapons and military equipment when it was seized, triggering a complex regional security crisis.
According to a Somali official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to The Associated Press, the ship was captured on Monday approximately three-and-a-half nautical miles off Marraya in the Eyl district of Puntland. Following the swift takeover, the armed pirates navigated the vessel towards the region’s Nugaal coastline.
Owned by Polar Movement Shipping, the M/V LUTUF was reportedly en route to Mogadishu. Its sensitive cargo included arms, advanced communications gear, and satellite equipment specifically intended for a Turkish military training facility located in the Somali capital. The multinational crew currently being held hostage comprises six Indians, one Turkish national, a Georgian, and two Serbian security personnel.
Local authorities suspect that the eight pirates involved in this latest maritime incident belong to the same syndicate responsible for hijacking another vessel, the M/V Sward, earlier this year on April 26.
The crisis took a dramatic turn on Tuesday. The official noted that a small boat carrying two men approached the hijacked ship to deliver khat, a stimulant widely chewed in Somalia. Shortly after the small boat returned to the shore, a targeted airstrike was launched in the immediate vicinity, killing four men and leaving two others seriously injured. The origins of the airstrike, who authorized it, and whether the casualties were directly involved in the hijacking remain unverified.
In response to the hostile takeover, two Turkish-owned vessels have reportedly moved closer to the captive ship. Additionally, the surrounding airspace is being heavily monitored by Turkish helicopters and surveillance drones. As of now, Turkish authorities have yet to issue an official public statement regarding the incident.
The current status of the M/V LUTUF, the fate of its highly sensitive military cargo, and the safety of the international crew—including the six Indian nationals—remain shrouded in uncertainty. This high-stakes hijacking once again highlights the persistent and volatile security challenges plaguing the maritime routes off the Horn of Africa.