Two crew have been taken hostage from a tanker off West Africa, but Nigeria’s navy has freed the vessel.

The 7,700–dwt Maximus (built 2007) was attacked and hijacked off the Ivory Coast, probably on 11 February.

But India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday the vessel and 10 Indian seafarers were released with the help of Nigeria.

An Indian and a Pakistani remain in the control of pirates, however.

“On our request, the ship was followed by Ghana and Nigerian navy. We have rescued 10 Indians with the help of the Nigerian navy,” Swaraj tweeted.

“We are trying to rescue eleventh Indian and a Pakistani crew member from the pirates.”

The vessel is owned by Warm Seas Development of the UAE.

AIS data shows the ship stopped in Lagos on Monday.