At least six Indian sailors are reportedly among the crew of a cargo vessel hijacked by pirates off Somalia’s Puntland coast, in an incident drawing international attention because the ship was said to be transporting Turkish weapons and military-related equipment.
The Cameroon-flagged merchant vessel LUTUF was reportedly seized on Monday about three-and-a-half nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland’s Eyl district. The ship had a 10-member crew that included six Indians, one Turkish national, one Georgian and two Serbian security personnel.
According to an Associated Press report citing a Somali official who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter, eight suspected pirates took control of the vessel and moved it toward the Nugaal coast.
The attackers were believed to be associated with a pirate group previously linked to the April 26 hijacking of another merchant vessel, Sward. After taking control of LUTUF, they reportedly moved the ship toward the coast near Garmaal in Puntland’s Dangoroyo district.
The vessel was said to be carrying weapons destined for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu, along with communications and satellite equipment. The ship was reportedly owned by Polar Movement Shipping.
The presence of Indian sailors aboard the vessel has added another international dimension to the incident. As of the latest reports, neither Indian nor Turkish authorities had publicly issued a detailed statement confirming the condition of the crew or outlining efforts to secure their release.
The situation became more complicated after two Turkish-owned vessels reportedly approached the hijacked ship. Turkish helicopters and drones were also said to have been monitoring the area as events unfolded.
On Tuesday, a small boat carrying two men reportedly approached the hijacked vessel and delivered khat, a stimulant commonly used in Somalia. After the boat returned to shore, an airstrike reportedly struck the area, killing four people and injuring two others.
However, important details surrounding the reported strike remain unclear. It has not been independently established who carried it out or whether those killed and injured were connected to the hijacking.
There is also uncertainty surrounding the present location and condition of LUTUF, its military cargo and the 10 crew members.
The incident comes amid continuing concerns over piracy and maritime security around Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa, where commercial shipping has historically faced threats from armed groups operating from coastal areas.
With six Indian nationals reportedly caught in the crisis and sensitive Turkish military cargo aboard the vessel, attention is now focused on the response from Indian and Turkish authorities and efforts to determine the safety of the crew.
Several elements of the incident remain based on accounts from Somali officials and media reports and have not yet been independently verified. Until authorities release further information, the fate of the sailors, the vessel and its cargo remains uncertain.