Indian sailor Sudeep Choudhary was kidnapped at gunpoint by Nigerian pirates. He and his crew were taken to a swampy jungle prison in the Niger Delta where human skeletons hung in the trees. The hostages pinned their hopes on shaky ransom negotiations and the desperate efforts of their families back home. Sudeep tells Outlook's Kevin Ponniah his harrowing story and how his freedom was secured.

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Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Deiniol Buxton
Sound designer: Joel Cox

Picture: Sudeep Choudhury
Picture design by Manuella Bonomi
Image credits: Sanjeet Pattanaik, Getty Images and www.marinetraffic.com/DennisMortimer