Another ship hijack has been prevented last weekend by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. NIMASA in its action arrested 15 suspected pirates with arms and ammunition.
Disclosing this to members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, NIMASA’s Director-General, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, said the hijack was to have taken place off the coast of Cotonou in the Republic of Benin.
He added that the agency’s activities in the war against piracy led to foiling the hijack and arrest of the suspects.
Akpobolokemi said the agency’s extension of its anti-piracy operation in Benin waters, based on the request of the President of Benin Republic to the Nigerian government, was directed by President Goodluck Jonathan.
He stated that the operations of NIMASA had assisted in curbing the menace of piracy and border-related vices within the Benin Republic waters and its neighbouring states of Nigeria, Togo and Ghana.
He said if the issue was not tackled, it would lead to high cost of freight of cargoes, thereby bringing an increase in the cost of goods and services, adding that Nigeria could be tilting towards the Somali situation.
Source: Maritime Connector
