Tag: Pirates

Nigerian pirates shift from hijacking to kidnapping – Report

Aminu Imam
Nigerian pirates shift

Crackdowns on piracy in the Bight of Biafra – the stretch of ocean from Nigeria to Gabon – have pushed pirates to switch tactics, according to a report by ENACT, Institute for Security Studies (ISS). Its Senior Researcher,, Raoul Sumo Tayo, said: “With hijackings declining since 2021, armed groups now focus on kidnapping for ransom, feeding a growing criminal economy”. The region’s proximity to Nigeria’s Niger Delta, where law enforcement is weak, makes it an ideal base. The UN and Cameroonian forces have confirmed multiple Nigerian pirate camps near the…

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Rivers: Niger-Delta pirates kidnap 19 passengers in boat hijacking

Aminu Imam
Niger Delta pirates kidnap

No fewer than 19 travelers were kidnapped along the Isaka River in Okrika local government area of Rivers State on Tuesday. Reports indicate that one of the boats was heading to Bonny Island, while the other was en route to the Cawthorne Channel in Bille, Degema local government area when the incident occurred Confirming the development, the Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, Port Harcourt Commercial District, Israel Pepple, described the situation as unfortunate. Pepple revealed that the pirates also made away with goods and…

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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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Maritime Security: Korean oil tanker hijacked by pirates in Gulf of Guinea

Aminu Imam

An SK Shipping tanker has been confirmed as the victim of a hijacking for the second time this year in the Gulf of Guinea. Piracy reporting body Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade Gulf of Guinea had reportedly said communication had been lost with the 5,700-dwt B Ocean (built 2010) on Wednesday night, but its fate was unclear. A security company, Ambrey said, yesterday: It was subsequently confirmed that pirates had boarded the vessel, cut communications, and had stolen cargo. The crew was reported to be safe. Another security company, Africa…

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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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