Diplomacy: Malabo and Yaounde strengthen cross-border security

A new page opens in Equatorial Guinea-Cameroon cooperation. By paraphrasing the document of a common strategy to protect their populations on both sides of the 189 km border between them, the two countries commit to blocking the way for the illegal movement of people and the invasion of the enemies of peace. But also to ensure the maritime surveillance that often serves as a gateway for maritime pirates.

Content of the final release

After two days of consultations, the Guinean and Cameroonian delegations decided to strengthen defence and security strategies at the common borders. They also agreed that the principles of:
National sovereignty,
Non-interference in the internal affairs of each country,
Prohibition of the threat or use of force and peaceful settlement of conflicts.

All things that support the two-day talks in Malabo and two more in Yaounde, on June 29 and 30, 2020.

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Source: crtv.cm

UNODC, EU pledge support to Nigeria, others over maritime crimes

By Bola Olajuwon

The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have pledged their continued support to strengthening the criminal justice response across West Africa within the framework of a project titled, “Support to West African Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS)”.

This is coming as Nigeria pressed ahead with the first ever trial of a piracy case under the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act of June 2019.

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Source: thenationonlineng.net

The curfew in ESSZone has been extended until August 3rd

KOTA KINABALU: The curfew order in the waters of seven districts in the East Sabah Safe Zone (ESSZone) which ended at 6pm tomorrow has been extended for two weeks until August 3, said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Zaini Jass.

He said following the extension, residents were asked to be indoors and were not allowed to enter the waters between 6pm and 6am during the period.

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Source: bharian.com.my

MarsecNews: I should know better than to use a Western source on a Malaysian story. I’ve archived yesterday’s article which stated that Malaysia had ‘ended’ the Sabah curfew entirely. It clearly has not.

AGF opposes bail application for alleged pirates

Oladimeji Ramon

The Attorney General of the Federation on Monday appealed to the Federal High Court in Lagos State not to grant bail to 10 alleged pirates, who are being tried for the hijacking of a fishing vessel, named FV Hai Lu Feng II, belonging to Haina Fishing Company.

The defendants were arraigned on July 13 before Justice Ayokunle Faji. The defendants are Frank Abaka, Jude Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adekole Philip, Matthew Masi and Bright Agbedeyi.

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Source: punchng.com

Allianz: Gulf of Guinea sees piracy soar

Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

THE Gulf of Guinea has re-emerged as the global piracy hotspot accounting for 90 per cent of global kidnappings reported at sea last year, with the number of crew taken increasing by more than 50 per cent to 121, according to marine insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s (AGCS) Safety & Shipping Review 2020.

Allianz, in the report made available to The Nation, stated that given heightened political and economic uncertainty in the world, piracy is a threat that is likely to remain for a long time.

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Source: thenationonlineng.net

Illegal oil dealings: 3 Nigerians sent to prison

By Wale Odunsi

Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor of Federal High Court, Ikoyi, on Thursday, convicted and sentenced Ometoruwa David, Morford Meteku and John Inneh to one year in prison for conspiracy and illegally dealing in petroleum products.

The trio were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on three-count amended charges to which they pleaded guilty upon their re-arraignment. On January 9, 2020, the Nigerian Navy had arrested the convicts on board a vessel, MV Lady Sharon.

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Source: dailypost.ng

Military arrests seven sea pirates, destroys oil thieves camp in South

The Defence Headquarters says the military has arrested seven suspected sea pirates, impounded bags of smuggled rice and destroyed oil thieves’ camp in the Niger Delta region in the last one week.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, disclosed this while giving update on the Armed Forces of Nigeria operations between July 9 and 16 at a news conference Thursday in Abuja.

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Source: theeagleonline.com.ng

ECSA: Extension of EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta vital for maritime security

In a letter to the EU High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles, ECSA underlined the need for an extension to the current mandate and the continued European leadership in maintaining maritime security through EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta.

“The EU has shown strong leadership in enhancing the security of ships transiting the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin – through which 20% of global trade passes – by the establishment of Operation Atalanta in 2008,” wrote Martin Dorsman, ECSA Secretary General. “From the heights of piracy in the region in 2010, the Operation and associated measures have proven to be effective deterrents – achieving several years of strong curtailment.”

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Source: hellenicshippingnews.com

Fifty-one Incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia reported to ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre from January to June 2020

Number of incidents is almost double compared to the same period in 2019

ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) today released its Half-Yearly Report 2020 (January to June). Highlights of the Report, whose information is verified by the respective government agencies, also known as ReCAAP Focal Points, and regional authorities, are appended:

Overall Situation
• A total of 51 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 50 actual incidents and one attempted incident) were reported in Asia during January-June 2020

• This represents close to a two-fold increase in the total number of incidents and a two-fold increase in the number of actual incidents reported in Asia, compared to 28 incidents (comprising 25 actual incidents and three attempted incidents) during January-June 2019.

• Of the 51 incidents, 49 were incidents of armed robbery against ships and two were piracy incidents

• On the other hand, the severity level of incidents has not worsened during January-June 2020 compared to January-June 2019: o 1 incident of Category 1 (same as in 2019) o Decrease of Category 2 (from 2 to 1 which is the lowest among the past 14-year period of 2007-2020) o 74% of incidents were Category 4 (perpetrators not armed, crew not harmed)

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Via: recaap.org

USA warns vessels transiting Gulf of Guinea

By Godwin Oritse

THE United States of America, USA, has issued a Maritime Security Communication with Industry, MSCI, circular to guide vessels transiting through the Gulf of Guinea, GoG, with a view to alerting vessels in the event of an attack by pirates in the that region.

In the circular, the United States Department of Transportation and Maritime Administration warned that Piracy, Armed Robbery and Kidnapping for Ransom, KFR, continues to serve as a significant threat to U.S. flagged operators with vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea.

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Source: vanguardngr.com