Indian Mission negotiates successful repatriation of detained crew

After months of tireless negotiations and intervention on humanitarian grounds, the Indian Mission in Nigeria secured the safe repatriation of 16 Indian crew members who had been detained since August 2022. The crew members were part of the oil tanker MT Heroic Idun and were held in Equatorial Guinea before being moved to Nigeria under accusations of oil theft and unfounded charges against the Nigerian Navy for piracy.
The Indian government, through its Missions in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria, remained proactive in this crisis, repeatedly raising the issue in bilateral meetings and with the respective foreign authorities at multiple levels. The government persistently pushed for a swift resolution and the safe return of the Indian crew members.
Owing to the Indian government’s intervention, the detained crew was permitted to stay on board the ship with regular provision of food, instead of being relocated to a land-based detention center. They were also granted periodic contact with their families. Indian Mission officials consistentlycommunicated with the crew and secured multiple consular visits to the detainees.
The Indian Mission partnered with the shipping company to arrange legal representation for the crew. They highlighted to the Nigerian authorities that the crew had not participated in any oil theft and that all necessary permissions for the operations were seemingly in place. Moreover, the crew was not involved in the decision-making process concerning operations. These points, along with the emphasized humanitarian concerns surrounding some of the detained crew members, were conveyed during the discussions, sources told ANI.
Following extensive negotiations, all charges against the crew were dismissed, and the ship was released on May 27 after the payment of fines. The released crew members arrived at Kochi Airport in Kerala on Saturday night, having weathered trials and reached a settlement.
Upon their arrival at Kochi airport, the crew members were warmly welcomed by their families and Indian authorities, adorned with traditional garlands as a symbol of joy and respect.
One of the freed sailors, Sanu Jose, expressed his relief and gratitude towards the Indian government and Kerala government for their relentless efforts to secure their release. “There was a lot of uncertainty about what would happen to us. We feared for our lives in Nigeria but I thank everyone, including the Indian government and the Kerala government, for helping us get home,” Sanu Jose stated.
V Vijith, another crew member, lauded the tremendous efforts made by the Union government to ensure their safe return. He extended his gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs and G. Balasubramanian, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, acknowledging their instrumental roles in facilitating their release.