Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (EP)

Kasargod, Feb 3: A native of Uduma here is reportedly one among the twenty aboard the ship suspected to be hijacked by pirates on the African coast.

The family of Sree Unni (25), a resident of Perale Hittil, Uduma have received information of the hijack.

The tanker vessel MT Marine Express, with 22 Indians on board went missing off the coast of Benin, a West African country. It is suspected the vessel MT Marine Express, carrying 13,500 tonnes of gasoline, may have been hijacked for ransom or attacked by pirates for the gas.

The vessel is owned by Mumbai-based Anglo-Eastern Ship Management. The company officials informed Unni's family members that the ship lost all contact with the company on January 31.

Unni was working in the catering department of the ship for the last four years. He had returned to the ship a month ago after coming home on vacation.

His worried family said that Unni last called home on January 31 at 3 pm. The same night, the company lost contact with the ship.

Reports stated that India has sought the help of Nigeria and Benin to find the ship, and that search operations are on.