Malayali sailors who reached home from Nigeria said they were made to drink toilet water

Angamaly: The Malayali sailors who endured months of suffering and were finally released in Nigeria have returned home. The trio were really happy ending their 10-month-long misery and getting reunited with their loved ones. Their words were choked with emotion as the ship's sorrow transformed into pure joy. Overwhelmed with happiness, they embraced their families.

Sanu Jose, hailing from Ellamkulam in Kochi and serving as the chief officer of the ship, along with Milton D'couth, a native of Mulavukad and the ship's oiler and V. Vijith, third officer and Kollam native were released in Nigeria and safely returned home. They arrived at Kochi airport via Bengaluru on an Indigo flight from Delhi, around noon on Saturday. The reunion saw their family members and friends eagerly awaiting their arrival and welcoming them back.

They were held captive aboard a ship in Nigeria. In August last year, the Italian vessel named Heroic Idun was intercepted by forces from Equatorial Guinea, alleging that it had violated their territorial waters. As a result, they endured a three-month-long period of house arrest in Equatorial Guinea. 

Despite a significant ransom being paid to the government of Equatorial Guinea, the ship was not released. In the midst of this ordeal, Nigeria emerged with three charges against them, which included accusations of oil smuggling aboard the vessel. Subsequently, both the ship and the sailors were taken into custody. The release of the sailors became possible only due to significant global intervention.  

After battling malaria and typhoid fever and narrowly escaping death, Vijith and Milton have finally returned home. Initially, Equatorial Guinea forces had placed 15 persons, including Vijith and Milton, under house arrest on board the ship. The remaining 11, including Sanu Jose, were also held in detention aboard the ship. As the 15 persons, including Vijith and Milton, were being prepared to be handed over to the Nigerian Navy, they were transferred to another location . They were deprived of food and water, and confined to locked rooms. Armed army personnel stood guard, keeping a watchful eye. 

When we requested for water, we were told to consume from the toilet. Without any alternative, we had to resort to drinking toilet water, they said. Mosquitoes were also present and as a result, many fell ill with malaria and typhoid. Milton, unfortunately, had to be hospitalized due to typhoid. Once the ship was handed over to the Nigerian Navy, the 15 persons, including Vijith and Milton, were brought back on board. 

Vijith fell ill with malaria and typhoid while on board the ship. Due to his severe fever, he was tied to a ladder and carefully lowered into a boat to be taken to the hospital. He remained hospitalized for 10 days. Initially, despite Vijith's condition worsening, the authorities were reluctant to transport him to the hospital. It was only when the protest grew stronger that he was finally brought to the hospital for necessary medical care. 

Vijith is the brother of Vismaya, who tragically lost her life at her husband's house in Sasthamcotta due to dowry harassment. The sailors expressed that there were moments during their ordeal when hope seemed lost, making their safe return home more joyous .