Nigeria will commission $195 million worth of aircraft, boats and vehicles during the next three months, aiming to improve security in the Gulf of Guinea, as Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi informed.
In a circular letter to all IMO member states and shipping organizations, the IMO Secretary-General expressed his deep concern about the escalation in the number and severity of attacks in the Gulf of Guinea region and highlighted the need for ships to implement the measures in BMP West Africa.
Fifteen crew members of a cargo ship that were kidnapped last month in the Gulf of Guinea have been freed, Turkish media report.
Mr Pierre Morcos from CSIS ( Center for Strategic & International Studies) mentions that a vast maritime zone of 2.3 million square kilometers and 5700 kilometers of coastline with considerable economic wealth, the Gulf of Guinea has recently been plagued by a succession of acts of piracy, making this maritime space one of the most dangerous and unstable in the world.
Recent reporting notes that the MT Maria E has been boarded 108nm SW Sao Tome, on February 9, near the previously reported hijacked Liapenguy 809.
Τhe Gabon flagged fishing vessel Lianpengyu, with 14 crew onboard, has been reportedly hijacked off Port Gentil, Gabon, on February 7.
A small boat launched from a mother vessel approached the MT Seaking, with the attackers trying to unsuccessfully board the ship. The attack took place on February 8, off Port Gentil, Gabon.
An MV was reportedly attacked 56 Nm SW off Sao Tome, on February 8, by a fast craft with several persons onboard.
Nigeria’s new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Zubairu Gambo, claimed that some personnel of the Nigerian Navy are colluding with drug traffickers, bandits, kidnappers and economic saboteurs. He also warned that the persons colluding would be identified and sanctioned.
The curfew in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone), which was scheduled to end on January 30th, has been extended until February 14.
