Nigerian in Minn. hopes pirates will free brother
A Nigerian living in Minnesota is watching the news about Somali pirates closely as he waits for news of his brother.
Jeffrey Egbide of Maplewood says his brother, 31-year-old ship captain Graham Egbegi has been held hostage near the coast of Somalia for seven months after Somali pirates hijacked their ship.
Egbide is working with Somalis in Minnesota to try to get his brother and nine crew members released. He says the pirates recently requested $300,000 for his brother's release, but says the family can't afford the ransom.
Egbide hopes that the hijacking Wednesday of an American ship in the area will raise awareness about the situation and that his brother will be freed.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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