Turkish sailors in Turkey after abducted off Nigeria

ISTANBUL

Ten Turkish sailors, who were released on Friday after being kidnapped by gunmen off Nigeria last month, safely arrived homeland Sunday morning.

Hakan Cakar, a kidnapped sailor, said that armed pirates had hijacked the ship, and took crew to a forest.

"We didn't know what was their purpose. They didn't say anything," he said, adding that they were held in "very difficult conditions" in a shed.

Cakar also said that all his thoughts were with his family and Turkey after abducted.

"Today is my second birthday," he exclaimed.

Selcuk Esenyel -- a lawyer sent by the ship owner company to negotiate with the pirates, said that health condition of all 10 crew members was good.

In mid-July, 10 Turkish sailors traveling aboard the Ivory Coast-bound Turkish ship Paksoy-1 were abducted off Nigeria.

The ship was operated by the Kadioglu Maritime and had 18 crew on board at the time it was attacked by pirates suspected to be from Nigeria's volatile delta region, according to a local official.

On the day of the incident, Turkey's Foreign Ministry said that initiatives had been taken for the release of the Turkish men.

*Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev