New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS): Nigeria has assured help in finding 22 Indian nationals who were on board a ship that went missing on Saturday off the coast of Benin in the Gulf of Guinea, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday.
"I have just spoken to Foreign Minister of Nigeria regarding missing Merchant Ship with 22 Indian nationals on board," she tweeted Monday evening, adding her Nigerian counterpart "has promised all help and assistance in locating the missing ship".
On Sunday, Sushma Swaraj said all efforts were being made to trace the merchant ship Marine Express that went missing near west Africa with the 22 Indians on board.
The ship is an oil tanker owned by Mumbai-based Anglo Eastern shipping company.
"Merchant Ship Marine Express with 22 Indian nationals is missing off the Coast of Benin in the Gulf of Guinea. We are making all out efforts in coordination with Nigerian and Benin naval authorities to trace the missing ship," Sushma Swaraj said in a tweet on Sunday.
She also shared the number of a 24-hour helpline which can be used to inquire about the missing people: +234-9070343860.