Following yesterday’s alleged pirate attack on the Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel Mengxin 1 in Ghanaian seas, three Chinese crew members have been abducted.
After the attackers departed the ship, it was found that the captain, chief mate, and chief engineer were missing.
According to reports, at approximately 5:53 p.m., seven armed men rushed the ship, fired warning shots, and forced some crew members to take cover in a safe section.
Before leaving, the attackers reportedly rounded up the crew on deck, confiscated their phones, and stayed on board for about three hours.
An official statement from the Ghana Armed Forces signed by Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie said “When the crew emerged, they discovered that the ship’s captain, chief mate, and chief engineer—all Chinese nationals—were missing and are believed to have been kidnapped. Due to poor signal coverage at sea, the crew had to sail closer to shore before they could report the incident,” a statement issued today (March 29, 2025)
According to the statement, the ship has since reached Tema Fishing Harbour without incident, and the crew was being questioned by Marine Police and Naval Intelligence officials.
Additionally, it said that as part of larger regional efforts to combat maritime piracy within the Yaoundé security framework, authorities had warned neighboring nations through the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) in Accra.
The statement promised that every effort was being made to find the criminals and ensure the crew who had been kidnapped returned safely.
