Audio By Carbonatix
Somali pirates have released a Bangladesh-flagged vessel and its 23-member crew after a ransom was reportedly paid.
The MV Abdullah was carrying coal from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) when it was hijacked off Somalia's coast about a month ago.
The pirates alleged that they received $5m (ÂŁ4m), but there is no independent confirmation of the claim.
A spike in hijackings has been reported off Somalia's coast in recent months.
More than a dozen vessels have been targeted since late November.
Security experts said a security vacuum had developed off Somalia's coast after foreign navies patrolling its waters turned their attention to the Red Sea, where Yemen's Houthi rebel group have been attacking ships.
Between 2005 and 2012, pirates off the Horn of Africa raked in between $339m and $413m by holding crew members hostage and demanding ransom payments, the World Bank has estimated.
Latest Stories
-
KGL’s “big payments” are the price of state-backed monopoly, not heroism
8 minutes -
Success is built on discipline, not talent – Ace Ankomah on becoming Mfantsipim’s Best Student, from weakest class
43 minutes -
The Ga question we prefer not to ask
2 hours -
Korle Klottey’s revenue surges to GH¢40 million as municipality positions itself as an investment hub
2 hours -
EPAC calls for greater investment in packaging to boost local brands
2 hours -
Unpacking the Future of AI: The Promise of Embodied Intelligence
2 hours -
The Inconvenient Truth: Institutions rarely collapse because of bad laws. They collapse when their guardians stop guarding
3 hours -
Iran says it struck ships in Strait of Hormuz after US launches new strikes
4 hours -
Growing backlash in Japan over Trump’s use of anime characters
4 hours -
Bill Gates says Epstein wanted personal relationship, but he ‘never reciprocated’
5 hours -
Daniel Doe Djirackor
5 hours -
Evangelist Mrs Grace Baaba Fabiwa Duah
5 hours -
Missing newborn at Salaga Hospital: Police question staff as regional team launches probe
5 hours -
Sand truck mate dies, driver injured in Bokankye electrocution incident
5 hours -
Witness confirms withdrawals reflected in bank statements in Adu-Boahene trial
5 hours