Somali’s Puntland has deployed more maritime forces to the coastal areas of Bari on a rescue mission to free up a vessel hijacked by Somali pirates earlier this week.
According to an official, the government deployed units of Puntland Maritime Police Forces (PMDF) to the coastal areas of Bari region to participate in the efforts to rescue the vessel and crew members.
Puntland has sent hundreds of PMPF forces with gunboats to the area, according to the officer. PMPF are well trained forces and financed by the United Arab Emirates.
The commercial vessel which is oil tanker operated by eight Sri Lankan sailors was carrying fuel from Djibouti destined to Somali’s capital Mogadishu when it was hijacked by Somali pirates on Monday in the Indian Ocean, according to the reports.
The pirates after hijacking it at the coast of Alula district, are believed to have relocated to the Habo district in Bari region of Puntland, according to the officer.
The number of attacks by Somali pirates has dropped significantly in the past five years.
