Twenty-four members of the Russian crew aboard a Greek-owned oil tanker have been seized by pirates in Togo's territorial waters. The attack took place only 30 km from the Togolese capital of Lome.

      “Pirates have kidnapped 24 Russian sailors in an attack on a Greek-owned oil tanker off the coast of Togo,” the English-language TV channel said.  “The crew alerted the Togolese Navy, but the tanker managed to escape amid an exchange of fire with a patrol boat.”

      According to the recent reports, the crew's lives are not in danger. Pirats didn't seize any hostages, as it was an attack to steal fuel. Specialists say there are about 50,000 tonnes of diesel fuel and gasoline aboard the ship.

      Russian embassy in the region reports all the sailors came from Novorossiisk and were hired by the Alfa Marine Crew Services agency.

      As it is said in the International Maritime Bureau report, about 32 pirate attacks on ships were registered off Benin, Nigeria and Togo in 2012.