CORRECTED: Two Russians kidnapped by pirates freed in Nigeria: report

Two Russian sailors taken hostage by pirates who hijacked a Greek-owned ship off Cameroon in mid-May have been freed in Nigeria, the Russian sailors’ union was quoted as saying on Sunday.

The captain and chief mechanic of the North Spirit’s 16-member crew, Boris Tersintsev and Igor Shumik, were taken to Lagos for a medical check after their release was secured in talks, Russian news agencies reported.

“They were freed, according to the ship’s owner. They are now on their way to Lagos, where they will spend two-three days,” said a spokeswoman for the Russian sailors’ union, Irina Ustimenko, quoted by RIA Novosti and ITAR-TASS.

A ransom was likely paid for the sailors’ release, but its size has not been disclosed, she said, adding that they were well and would fly home following the medical check.

The fate of the Lithuanian captain of a third vessel, Dmitrij Baskirov, seized the same day after pirates raided the nearby Lithuanian ship Argo on May 16, is still unclear, agencies said.