Video of hijacked crew emerges 26 days after Somali pirate seizure

MOGADISHU: A video showing 10 crew members of an Indonesian-flagged vessel held by Somali pirates surfaced on Friday, drawing renewed concern from relatives of the hostages and the wider public.

In the footage, Second Officer Hussain Yousuf, one of the abducted crew members, appealed to the government for immediate help to secure the release of those on board. He appeared alongside other Pakistani crew members and Indonesian colleagues, while armed pirates could be seen standing in the background.

Yousuf said 26 days had passed since the vessel was taken over and added that the crew had no knowledge of any progress in talks for their release. He also described deteriorating conditions aboard the ship.

He said the hostages were being given only small portions of rice once every 24 hours and were being forced to drink contaminated water from the ship’s tank.

He also urged the government and the shipping company to speed up negotiations so the crew could be freed safely.

Families appeal for action

The families of the abducted Pakistani crew members are in severe distress and have repeatedly appealed to the authorities for the safe return of their relatives. The children of the hostages said they hoped to celebrate the upcoming Eidul Azha with their fathers.

The families have approached a number of government officials through the media and social media platforms. About two weeks ago, they met the Sindh governor in what was described as their first formal interaction with a government representative.

During that meeting, the governor assured them of full cooperation and said he would raise the matter with the federal government.

Earlier protest in Karachi

Earlier, the families staged a symbolic protest at Native Jetty Bridge to highlight their demands. The demonstration briefly disrupted heavy port traffic.

They also warned that they would begin a hunger strike if their demands were not addressed without delay.

The newly surfaced video has again brought attention to the plight of the crew members, with Yousuf’s appeal underscoring the worsening humanitarian conditions described by those being held captive.

The footage showed Pakistani and Indonesian crew members together during the appeal, while armed men remained visible behind them throughout the recording.

The video emerged on Friday, 26 days after the vessel was seized by Somali pirates.