Tag: Gulf of Guinea

Gulf of Guinea pirates abduct 9 seafarers aboard LPG tanker

Aminu Imam
Gulf of Guinea pirates

Nine seafarers have been kidnapped in a pirate attack on LPG carrier, ‘CGAS Saturn’, off the coast of Equatorial Guinea. According to a maritime security company, the Portugal-flagged CGAS Saturn was attacked in the Gulf of Guinea, approximately 50nm west of Mbini, Equatorial Guinea. At least nine crew were kidnapped and four left onboard, according to one crew member who was injured. Those left onboard were the second captain, third captain, deck officer, and oiler, the company claimed. An earlier initial report said at least 12 crew were kidnapped and…

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GoG Corridor Criminality: Naval Heads to meet for 2024 Maritime Security Symposium

Aminu Imam
Naval Heads to meet

Abuja is set to host the 2024 Symposium on Maritime Security and Sustainable Development in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), with heads of navies and coast guards from the region converging for the high-profile event. The Nigerian Navy will host the symposium in collaboration with the European Union and the French Navy, according to a statement released by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, on Friday. The symposium, scheduled for November 26–28, will address critical issues in maritime security and sustainability. With a theme centered on: “Maritime Security…

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Tinubu, Gulf of Guinea President, Mbasogo sign agreement on gas pipeline

Aminu Imam
Tinubu in Malabo

President Bola Tinubu and Equatorial Guinean President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, in Malabo, have signed an agreement on Gulf of Guinea Pipeline Project, further affirming partnership for mutual development. The agreement, hhich was signed on Wednesday evening by the twi Presidenrs, covered legislative and regulatory measures for the gas pipeline, establishment and operation, transit of natural gas, ownership of the gas pipeline, and general principles. In his remarks at the event, President Tinubu, who is on a three-day official visit to the country, said the signing of the agreement will…

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Maritime Security: Nigeria among 8 countries in Gulf of Guinea, facing piracy challenges

Aminu Imam

Nigeria is one of the eight countries situated in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), along with Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The Gulf of Guinea encompasses the northeastern part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean, extending from Cape Lopez, in Gabon, to Cape Palmas in Liberia, with a Regional Office based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Over the years, this region has been plagued by a persistent issue of piracy. Incidents involve the hijacking of vessels, kidnapping of crew members for ransom, and theft of crude oil…

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Maritime Security: ‘Nigeria spent $195m in 2021 to tackle piracy in Gulf of Guinea’ – Buhari

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said Nigeria will continue to deploy significant resources towards tackling Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, adding that in June 2021, the government unveiled $195 million worth of boats, vehicles and aircraft to spearhead the country’s fight against Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea through the Deep Blue Project. Speaking for the last time as Nigeria’s President at the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), Tuesday in Accra, Ghana, President Buhari stressed that…

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Gulf of Guinea: Pirates switching from kidnapping to oil theft 

Aminu Imam

…As Nigeria loses over $2bn to oil bunkering in 8 months Africa’s Gulf of Guinea is witnessing a shift in the dynamics of piracy, with criminal networks moving away from targeting commercial ships to oil bunkering, theft and illegal fishing, a report presented to the UN Security Council (UNSC) has revealed. The report also revealed that the widespread cases of thefts have resulted in Nigeria losing more than $2 billion during the first eight months of this year. According to a report released by Maritime Executive yesterday, the UN Security…

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Gulf of Guinea: Nigeria, 31 nations deploy warships, helicopters for joint military exercise

Aminu Imam

The Nigerian Navy on Friday deployed 10 warships and two helicopters in a joint multinational maritime exercise comprising 31 other foreign navies. The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, inaugurated the exercise tagged: “Obangame Express 2022” in Onne, Eleme local government area of Rivers State. Gambo said the exercise was aimed at improving security in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) and boosting synergy with navies within the regional block and allied countries. According to him, the Nigerian Navy will conduct the drill on Nigeria’s territorial waterways and the…

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Four pirates who attempted to hijack ship shot dead off Nigeria’s coast

Aminu Imam

The Danish military says the crew of one of its warships operating in the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of Nigeria, have killed four pirates in a gun battle, the British Broadcasting Corporation, (BBC) reported. A statement said the frigate, Esbern Snare, accompanied by a helicopter approached a speeding motorboat south of Nigeria on Wednesday. “No Danish soldiers were injured, but five pirates were shot. Four of the pirates died. One was injured”, the statement added. There were eight men on board with ladders and other tools often used…

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Nigeria rescues 14 kidnapped sailors in Gulf of Guinea

Aminu Imam

Fourteen sailors kidnapped by pirates were rescued on Saturday in the Gulf of Guinea. The Army spokesman, Mohammed Yerima, said 10 foreign crew members and four Nigerians who were taken hostage were rescued in an operation off of the coasts of Nigeria and Gabon. According to Yerima, the operation was successfully carried out without any “ugly incident or loss,” who said those rescued will soon be handed over to their families. Although one of the world’s richest regions in terms of unexploited natural resources, the Gulf of Guinea within the…

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