Swaraj speaks with Nigerian Foreign Minister , seeks help

New Delhi/Mumbai: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday spoke with her Nigerian counterpart and sought assistance in tracing a missing oil tanker with 22 Indians on board.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama assured Swaraj of all help and assistance in locating the ship that went missing off the coast of Benin in the Gulf of Guinea, according to a tweet by Swaraj.

The "Marine Express" continues to be missing in the piracy-plagued waters near West Africa, an official of the Mumbai-based Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) said.

"I have just spoken to Foreign Minister of Nigeria regarding missing merchant ship with 22 Indian nationals on board. Hon'ble Foreign Minister of Nigeria has promised all help and assistance in locating the missing ship. We have set up a Helpline no.(+234)9070343860," Swaraj said of her telephonic conversation with the Nigerian leader.

The DGS official said that all the communication equipment on board has been switched off. No ransom call had been received, the official said. He said that the Indian mission in Nigeria was in contact with the Nigerian Navy and other agencies.