Somali pirates have freed the hijacked vessel, MV Abdullah, and its crew of 23, following the payment of a $5 million ransom, as revealed by two of the pirates involved.
According to Abdirashiid Yusuf, one of the pirates, the ransom was delivered two nights ago, meticulously verified for authenticity, and subsequently divided among the group to evade government forces.
Yusuf confirmed that the ship, along with its entire crew, has been released unharmed.
Despite attempts to reach out, Somali government officials remained unavailable for comment regarding the incident.
The MV Abdullah, a bulk carrier flagged in Bangladesh, was seized in March during its voyage from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates. The hijacking occurred approximately 600 nautical miles east of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
Notably, Somali pirate activities had significantly subsided between 2008 and 2018 but resurged in late 2023, sparking concerns over maritime security along the nation’s extensive coastline.
