We cover piracy, armed robbery at sea, IUU fishing, maritime cyber security and maritime security issues.
Bangladesh Coast Guard on Thursday requested journalists not to use the word ‘piracy’ or ‘pirate’ while referring to robbery incidents on inland and coastal waterways.
The word ‘piracy’ on sea refers to robbery or criminal incidents outside the maritime boundary of the country while the incidents handled by the coast guards occur along the coast of the country and is thus robbery, said a release.
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Source: newagebd.net
In the Sulu Seas, kidnap-for-ransom activities perpetrated by Islamic State-linked terrorist networks are on the rise again.
By Kenneth Yeo
On September 23, a group of seven gunmen aboard two pump boats ambushed and seized three fishermen off the coast of East Sabah, in a sign of how the Islamic State (IS) and its affiliated networks continue to trouble the Southeast Asian region. The latest attack follows a surge in ambushes and kidnappings in the last two years along the Sulu Seas, which encompasses the waters around Indonesia, Malaysia’s eastern Sabah state and the Philippines, and has long been a hotspot for piracy and sea robbery. Although there was no claim of responsibility, the attackers are said to be members of an Abu Sayyaf splinter group affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) in Sulu province. It is believed the seven gunman, who were masked, boarded two fishing vessels around midday local time, and abducted three crew members.
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Source: thediplomat.com
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have invaded Amariari community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State and kidnapped two persons, according to a report by PUNCH.
The gunmen, according to a source from the area, came into the community on Wednesday morning and forced themselves into some houses.
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Source: saharareporters.com
MOSCOW, Russia – Moscow on Sunday, September 22, said 3 Russian seamen abducted in an act of piracy off the coast of Cameroon in August have been freed and brought to Germany.
The Russians were part of a group of sailors, including Chinese and Ukrainian citizens, taken hostage in mid-August after an attack on their merchant ships in the Gulf of Guinea. In a statement, the Russian foreign ministry said they were “released from pirate captivity” and that their health was “satisfactory.”
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Source: rappler.com
ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines — Suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits killed a retired government employee they seized in Patikul, Sulu on Sunday.
The bandits also reportedly ransacked the house of Kirah Tiblan in Sitio Lingon Gitung, Barangay Igasan before setting it on fire.
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Source: philstar.com
By Uchenna Eletuo
Lagos – Mr Bayo Oyekan, a ship captain, on Monday appealed to stakeholders to support the Nigerian Navy to check the incidence of piracy on the nation’s waters.
Oyekan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the lukewarm attitude of other agencies that were supposed to support the Navy in checking piracy had made the incidence to rise in the Gulf of Guinea.
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Source: sundiatapost.com
Reports state that a passenger boat was attacked by armed men around 30nm South of Calabar, Nigeria at 0600 LT. Seven armed robbers in one skiff approached the passenger/ro-ro ship and boarded her. They robbed passengers before making off with a reported five hostages.
I have additional details but am waiting for an official incident report before.
By Francis Wakefield
Government troops seized a speed boat used by the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the island of Simisa, Sulu on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.
A military report disclosed that the relentless and continuous joint operation conducted by the Marine Battalion Landing Team – 3, Naval Task Group/Philippine Marine Ready Force – Sulu, and Joint Task Force-Sulu resulted in the recovery of the speedboat believed to be the “get-away” vessel of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group in the island of Simisa, Sulu.
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Source: news.mb.com.ph
By Odita Sunday, Jesutomi Akomolafe (Lagos), Kanayo Umeh, Sodiq Omolaoye (Abuja) and Ayodele Afolabi (Ado-Ekiti)
The Nigerian Navy (NN) is seeking better collaboration and understanding with maritime stakeholders for effective prosecution of pirates and sea robbers.
It said that lack of collaboration among relevant government agencies had been the reason why suspects are granted bail in court.
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Source: guardian.ng
By Godwin Oritse
The Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive, Nigerian Shippers ‘Council, NSC, Hassan Bello, has said that the imposition of surcharges on Nigerian bound cargo due to imaginary security concerns along the Gulf of Guinea region is a misconception of foreign shipping lines.
He lambasted foreign shipping firms for miscategorization and exaggeration of the security situation in the country to justify surcharges they unjustly levied on cargo destined to Nigeria.
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Source: allafrica.com
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