Nigeria hands over vessel, crew suspected of piracy to Ghana

The Nigerian government has handed over the fishing vessel, Marine 707, suspected to be carrying out illegal activities in the Gulf of Guinea to the Ghanian authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution. Nigeria also handed over 51 crew members including 48 Ghanaians and three south Korea nationals to the government of Ghana and Korea respectively.

The vessel which had authorisation to fish in Ghana and Benin waters was arrested by the Nigerian Navy on May 18, 2020 around the southwest of Lagos waters with her Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched off after being suspected to be used for piracy or being used as a mother ship to conduct piracy in the Gulf of Guinea was handed over to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) after preliminary investigations by the Navy.

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Source: premiumtimesng.com

4 troopers, 2 Abu Sayyaf members killed in Sulu encounter

Roel Pareño

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Four Army Special Forces were killed while 17 others were wounded in a fight that erupted Friday as the government troops encountered 40 members of the Abu Sayyaf group in a jungle lair in Patikul town, Sulu, military official confirmed Saturday.

The military said two Abu Sayyaf members were also killed and others were wounded in the encounter.

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Source: philstar.com

Police search for 2 women, baby abducted by pirates in Rivers

Okafor Ofiebor

The whereabouts of two women and a baby who were abducted by gunmen suspected to be Sea Pirates along the waterways of Degema in Rivers State are still unknown.

The women and the baby were among passengers in the boat attacked by Sea Pirates along the waterways of Namasibi, New Calabar Rivers, in Degema Local Government area of Rivers State on Thursday.

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Source: thenewsnigeria.com.ng

Suspected sea pirates reportedly attack passenger boat in Rivers

By Victor Azubuike

Armed men suspected to be sea pirates have allegedly hijacked a passenger boat around the Namasibi axis of the New Calabar River, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered the boat was travelling from Port Harcourt to Ke Clan in Degema before armed bandits attacked the boat.

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Source: dailypost.ng

NNPC Records 74 Pipeline Breaches in Two Months

Emmanuel Addeh

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) lost over N20 billion due to 74 pipelines breaches by suspected crude oil thieves in January and February this year, the national oil company has said.

Information obtained from the corporation also indicated that from the illegal activities of the vandals, loss of refined products, especially petrol, amounted to about 56 million litres from January to April 2020, from its system 2B alone.

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Source: thisdaylive.com

Alleged oil theft : DPR hands over nine vessels to Navy, EFCC

The Department of Petroleum Resources said nine vessels allegedly involved in oil theft had been handed over to the Nigerian Navy and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Sarki Auwalu, Director, DPR, made the disclosure on Wednesday during an online interactive session with the media on topical issues in the oil and gas industry.

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Source: theeagleonline.com.ng

Curfew in Esszone extended until June 19

KOTA KINABALU: The curfew in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone), which ends at 6pm tomorrow, has been extended until June 19, said Sabah Police Commissioner, Datuk Zaini Jass.

Zaini said the curfew covered the waters off Tawau Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran and residents were required to remain at home throughout the curfew period.

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Source: nst.com.my

French Navy FREMM Frigate ‘Languedoc’ now under EMASOH command

The French frigate FS “Languedoc” has begun its deployment under EMASOH (European-led Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz) command since May 19.

Martin Manaranche

EMASOH press release

In order to ensure a safe navigational environment and to enhance maritime situational awareness, the FS Languedoc will be operating closely together with the Dutch frigate “HNLMS de Ruyter” and the French Maritime Patrol Aircraft Atlantique 2.

“Our sensors and our NH90 helicopter allow us a permanent watch in the area to enhance the common maritime security. We are looking forward to contribute to the security of navigation and the free flow of commerce in an area that is crucial for the world economy and European interests”

Captain Jean-Pierre Helluy, commanding officer of the FS Languedoc.

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Source: navalnews.com

Cypriot Shipowners Call for Action on Gulf of Guinea Kidnappings

In a statement Thursday, the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) expressed “growing frustration at the ineffectiveness of the international community” in solving the longstanding problem of piracy and maritime kidnapping in the Gulf of Guinea.

Kidnap-for-ransom incidents occur with regularity in the waters off Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Equatorial Guinea and neighboring states. Pirate attacks have been common in the region for decades, but in recent years they have shifted away from petroleum theft in favor of crew abduction. The region now leads the world for kidnappings at sea.

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Source: maritime-executive.com

Rivers Police arrest 17 sea pirates

By Ann Godwin

Operatives of the Marine Division of the Rivers State Police Command has arrested 17 sea pirates who allegedly attacked men of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 5, at Egelegele River in Degema Local Government Area of the State last week.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni ,while confirming the arrest in a statement yesterday, said the hoodlums were nabbed during follow ups on the dastardly act, where the security officers lost their arms and ammunition.

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Source: guardian.ng