The whereabouts of eight sailors abducted by suspected Pirates off Brass coastline in Bayelsa State,since April 19 has remained unknown, even as the Nigerian Navy intensifies efforts to rescue them.

The sailors, whose names were given as Smart Kungborde, Isaiah Ebiewe, Christopher Wisben, Gabriel Enayon, Sylvester Ovwigho, Mathew Enegbuma and Kelly Shaka, were abducted in the Atlantic Ocean, about 17 nautical miles, off Brass terminal in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

The sailors were identified as employees of Tethys Nigeria Limited and Sylver Global Limited.

The gunmen were said to have forcibly boarded the vessel after firing several gunshots in the air to scare the sailors.

The suspected pirates stolen their victims’ valuables, forced them into their speedboats and drove them to an unknown destination.

It was, however, learnt that troops of the Forward Operation Base, Fomoso, at Egweama in Brass had launched a manhunt for the abductors in order to free the hostages.

Naval officers at the Central Naval Command Headquarters, Yenagoa have declined comments on the incident.

It was gathered that the ill-fated vessel is owned by a top politician and retired naval officer from the state.The owner of the vessel is said to have established contacts with the gunmen and had gone far in negotiating for a ransom to free the abducted Sailors.