A Nghe An sailor captured by Somali pirates has returned to Kenya.

Twenty-six Asian sailors, including one from Nghe An, who were released by Somali pirates on October 22 after more than four years of captivity in a small fishing village in Dabagala, Somalia, arrived in Kenya's capital Nairobi yesterday (October 23) and are about to board a flight home.

>>>> Somali pirates release Vietnamese hostage after 4 years of captivity

>>>> 3 Vietnamese workers were kidnapped by pirates for 4 years, including a person from Nghe An

Reuters news agency reported that the sailors released came from Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia and Taiwan. Of the three Vietnamese crew members, one resides in Nghia Yen commune, Nghia Dan district, Nghe An province.

Asian sailors held hostage by Somali pirates arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya on October 23 (local time). Photo: AP

The Oman-flagged FV Naham 3 was attacked by Somali pirates while operating near Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean in March 2012.

Information about the number of Vietnamese crew members returned by Somali pirates this time was confirmed to Tuoi Tre Newspaper by a representative from the Vietnam Automobile Industry Corporation (Vinamotor) - the unit that sent Vietnamese workers to Taiwan to work on the fishing vessel FV Naham.

Previously, in May 2012, Vinamotor Labor Export Branch informed the families of crew members Nguyen Van Ha (born in 1981, residing in Ky Khang commune, Ky Anh district, Ha Tinh), Phan Xuan Phuong (born in 1989, residing in Nghia Yen commune, Nghia Dan, Nghe An), Nguyen Van Xuan (born in 1981, residing in Ky Trinh ward, Ky Anh town, Ha Tinh) that the owner of the ship FV Naham 3 confirmed that the ship was captured by Somali pirates and the 3 crew members were working on the ship when the pirates captured them and demanded ransom.

The pirates handed over the 26 hostages to Somali authorities in the northern town of Galkayo on Saturday morning.

“It’s great to be here right now to bring them home and release them to their embassies and families,” said John Steed, East Africa regional manager for Oceans Beyond Piracy, a group that helps rescue hostages held by pirates.

Speaking as the sailors landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Kenya, on a United Nations humanitarian aid plane, Steed said the release was the result of a concerted effort to put pressure on the pirates, who are among the longest held by Somali pirates.

The sailors were held in Dabagala, near Harardheere, about 400 km northeast of Somalia's capital Mogadishu. Harardheere was once a major base for Somali pirates.

Pirates brought the sailors ashore after the ship sank more than a year after the hijacking, according to the Oceans Beyond Piracy organization.

Piracy off the coast of Somalia has subsided over the past three years, largely due to the presence of international warships and shipping lines monitoring maritime safety information.

Pirate attacks have cost the world’s shipping industry billions of dollars as they disrupt shipping lanes. Hundreds of sailors have been kidnapped and ships hijacked as they sailed about 1,000 miles off the coast of Somalia.

Emotional moment sailors land safely at airport in Nairobi, Kenya:

(Photo: Reuters)

(Photo: Reuters)

(Photo: AP)

(Photo: AP)

(Photo: Reuters)

(Photo: Reuters)

According to baohatinh.vn