The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has taken hostage Cadet Banjit Singh Dhindsa from India alongside some other crew members of chemical tanker -- 'Siehem Peace', about 20 nautical miles from Escravos, MEND said in a statement on Sunday.
Nigerian militants on Wednesday released an Indian and five other crew members of a chemical tanker, who were abducted more than two weeks ago off the restive oil-rich Niger Delta region.
A Nigerian militant group on Monday demanded the release of its leader, in return for setting free an Indian sailor, along with five foreign crew members of a chemical tanker. Nigerian militant group Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta sought the release of its leader Henry Okah for medical treatment abroad.
Authorities originally reported that the two hostages were Lebanese employees of a construction company, but later said they were Indians working in agriculture.
Bhardwaj, an engineer in Singapore-based shipping company Transocean Limited, was kidnapped along with four colleagues from different countries when their ship Sampatiki was at sea, around 30 nautical miles off Nigerian capital Lagos.
Santosh Bharadwaj, who was held captive by pirates in Nigeria for 45 days, speaks about his ordeal in captivity.
