Pirates off the coast of Togo have kidnapped four crew members from a Greek oil tanker, just days after a similar kidnapping in the waters of neighbouring Benin.
The Togolese navy said that armed attackers boarded the Elka Aristotle near the port of Lome after shooting and wounding the ship’s security guard.
Those abducted include Greek, Georgian and Filipino nationals.
The ship’s operator says the rest of the crew and the ship itself are safe and they are working to ensure the prompt release of their employees.
West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea is seen as a high-risk area for hostage taking – usually for ransom.
On Saturday nine crew members were abducted from a Norwegian-flagged cargo ship 15km (nine miles) off the coast of Benin.
