According to latest reports, the detained sailors in Equatorial Guinea, including Keralites, will not be extradited to Nigeria immediately. All the 15 crew members who were detained have been brought back to Malabo, the capital of Guinea.
Through diplomatic-level intervention, the extradition of the crew members to Nigeria has been halted. Fifteen of the crew members, including two Keralites, were shifted to a hotel.
Vijith, brother of Vismaya from Kollam who had died following dowry harassment, is also among the detained sailors. Other Keralites are Sanu Jose, the First Officer of the ship and Milton, a native of Kochi.
The Guinean Navy reportedly detained the ship at the behest of the Nigerian Naval Force.
They were detained when the ship reached the AKPO terminal on August 8 to fill with crude oil. The ship and the crew were detained by the Guinean Navy suspecting that the vessel had reached to steal crude oil.