ONI reports two kidnapping incidents in Gulf of Guinea

Gulf of Guinea – Piracy Events Over The Past Week

Pirate and maritime crime activity in West Africa waters is at a moderate level. There were two kidnappings the past week.

• Vessels Hijacked: No incidents to report.
• Kidnapping:

1. NIGERIA: On 5 February, the general cargo ship BBC CARIBBEAN was attacked by pirates at position 03:59N – 005:29E, Pennington Oil Terminal, off of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Eight crewmen, seven Russians and one Ukrainian, were kidnapped off the vessel by pirates armed with automatic weapons.
2. NIGERIA: On 8 February, the Nigerian Navy intercepted the oil tanker MT GAZ PROVIDENCE that had been seized earlier by pirates near Bonny Island, Nigeria, and its crew kidnapped. The navy intercepted the vessel in the Atlantic and freed its crew of 21.

• Vessels Boarded: No incidents to report.
• Vessels Fired Upon/Attempted Boarding/Attack: No incidents to report.
• Other Activity: No incidents to report.

• NIGERIA: On 8 February, the Nigerian Navy intercepted a tanker and rescued the kidnapped crew that had been hijacked by pirates near Bonny Island.
• PERU: On 7 February, a bulk carrier was boarded and items were stolen at Callao Anchorage.
• BANGLADESH: On 6 February, a vessel was boarded and items were stolen near Kutibidja Island.
• BANGLADESH: On 6 February, a vessel was boarded but no items were stolen near Kutibidja Island.
• NIGERIA: On 5 February, pirates boarded a vessel and kidnapped the crew near Bayelsa.

NGA Special Warning 134

Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden Commercial vessels in the region of the Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden should operate under a heightened state of alert as increasing tensions in the region escalate the potential for direct or collateral damage to vessels transiting the region. These threats may come from a variety of different sources such as missiles, projectiles or waterborne improvised explosive devices. Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for an 01 October attack on a UAE vessel. Vessels in the region should report hostile activities immediately and contact coalition naval forces via VHF bridge to bridge radio.