Three of the four crew members of the Elka Aristotle were released. One, twenty year old boy was killed. This is what a Greek agency specializing in maritime information reports.
“The hostages of the piracy that occurred in Togolese waters on November 04 were released. Three out of four crew members of the Greek oil tanker victim of this pirate attack off Togo are alive. However, a fourth man, identified as a Filipino national, was killed, in circumstances not yet clarified. ” entrusted the agency.
While not going back on the leadership conflicts which made the fight against pirates in Togolese waters ineffective, consequences of this successful pirate attack; it is necessary to recall the problems linked to the ransom demanded by pirates. As expected, the pirates demanded a ransom in the aftermath of the attacks. That was the problem, about who should pay the ransom. Given the failure of surveillance measures by Togo’s maritime security agents, the French oil company Total therefore wanted to blame the Togolese authorities. This is why the company would not want to give in on the questions of the ransom which it believes should be paid by the Togolese authorities.
For the time being, investigations are underway to determine the circumstances in which one of the hostages was killed and especially the party which ultimately paid the ransom.
In our previous releases, we relayed information about a successful operation by pirates off the Togolese coast. an operation which calls into question the efficiency of the functioning of the maritime prefecture and the High Council for the Sea, two institutions created by the Togolese presidency to secure the Togolese maritime coasts.
Alfredo Philomena
