Indonesian National Armed Forces free four Indonesian sailors kidnapped off Gabon coast

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), through Defence Attaché (Athan) RI in Nigeria, has freed four Indonesian seafarers who were kidnapped by pirates on 11 January 2026 off the coast of Gabon, Central Africa.

In an official press release from the TNI Headquarters received in Jakarta on Friday, it was stated that the RI Athan in Abuja, Nigeria reported that the liberation took place on Friday (5 March) at approximately 22:05 local time, and the four crew members arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, today.

Head of the Public Information Center (Kapuspen) at the TNI Headquarters, Brigadier General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, confirmed to ANTARA in Jakarta on Friday that the release occurred after a lengthy negotiation process with the pirates.

The negotiations, according to Aulia, yielded an agreement on 3 March 2026 to free nine hostages, including four Indonesian nationals.

“The four Indonesian nationals are Abdul Ajis, Aditia Permana, Mohamad Fardan Mubarok, and Eka Trenggana,” Aulia said.

Aulia added that the Indonesian hostages are currently placed in a safe holding facility in Lagos for medical examinations.

Aulia continued that the successful freeing of the Indonesian hostages was not the result of the TNI alone, but also involved several parties, including the RI Athan in Abuja, the Indonesian Embassy in Abuja, the Chinese Embassy in Gabon, the IB Fish Company, the Chinese Athan in Abuja, and the Chinese Community Leader in Lagos.