4 July 2009
(Page 3 of 3)
They were speaking their Somali language and later he called me to the front and he gave me the phone to speak to one of the sponsors. The guy just said, 'Captain, leave, go now, now, now'. That was how he put it.
It was in the process that I came alive and I told everyone, 'Gentlemen, we have got a chance'. In the process, the guy told us to pick up our anchor and we did. But before then I went and saw the phone numbers of the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Rescue Centre Malaysia, so I wrote the number and put in my pocket.
I thought it was a joke but when I picked up our anchor, the guy said we should drop one of our inflatable speed boats for him; so he gave me his gun, I held his gun and then he went into the boat, I gave him his gun myself and he said "go".
As soon as we started, I just called the people and told them that we had just been released and that we would need some security cover/back -up so that other groups would not hijack us again on the way. I gave them my position, my heading, my speed and where I was going to.
After some 10 minutes again, I called them. They said they had already given the information out and immediately I called the Nigerian Ambassador to Kenya, Dr. Wigwe, who had been in constant touch with me throughout this ordeal. We had been relating all our situation to him and that man is a very nice man any time, any day.
After that, I called my MD and told him that we had been freed and we were heading to Mukalla because the fuel could only take us to Mukalla, after which I called the Malaysian line again who gave me another hotline in the U K. I called the U K line which gave me the phone number of a particular ship The Seven Province. They said they had already informed them and had assigned them to come and assist us.
I called that ship which said they would rendezvous with me sometime in the morning. So we were just going. In the night, we decided to switch off all the lights in the ship. Funny enough, I saw something in the radar that was moving very close to us and I told my crew that "look, I am seeing a target that is moving towards us again. I don't know if it is a very fast moving vessel or the pirates again". So everybody should keep eyes open and watch.
So, while everybody was watching, we saw a very small white boat just moving this way and that way, not on a straight line, then, all of a sudden, I saw a very gigantic vessel behind me with all the lights on. It was later I came to realise it was the French vessel.
The presidential task force that met us there also contacted the French which happened to be true because the vessel was a French Naval Vessel. They met us and gave us cover until The Seven Province came. So when The Seven Province came, I complained to them about the health of the crew , especially that guy who had high blood pressure.
What did they do when they came?
Before then, they dispatched a security team because so many stories had been heard about this Yenagoa Ocean, so they really wanted to ascertain the content. When I came in, one of the local tabloids said I was carrying luxurious cars and all that. They checked everywhere and were satisfied. They now sent their medical team to us. They gave us food and water. They asked if I could take command of the vessel and I said yes. It is my responsibility. After that, they escorted us to Yemen.
What was the role of the Federal Government in all of these?
Like I said before, so many things were done in secrecy. I was calling the Nigerian High Commissioner in Kenya. I believe he must have been communicating those things to the officials of the Federal Government but whatever they did I don't know.
What are your expectations as you return home?
Normally, after this kind of terrible ordeal, when you come back home, you would need to be given all your salaries or whatever entitlements that are due you. But, up till this morning, we have not seen our employer. He was not even at the airport to welcome us. We are not government employees. Whatever government does for us is some kind of magnanimity on their own part.
We are appealing to the government as citizens of this country that they should not allow us to die like that because we don't even know when the company will pay us. If you go to court , you know the situation in our courts.
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