40 abduction bids foiled in Sabah

LAHAD DATU: Since 2018, security forces have thwarted 40 kidnapping attempts in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali said this was due to the cooperation between the Royal Malaysian Police, armed forces and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

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Source: nst.com.my

Malaysia shows commitment to security in Sabah waters: Minister

Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamad Sabu has reiterated the country’s commitment to increasing security in the Sulu Sea region following recurring kidnappings of Indonesian fishermen by southern Philippines militant group Abu Sayyaf, inviting all trilateral counterparts — Indonesia and the Philippines — to join the effort.

In a visit to Jakarta on Saturday, the Malaysian politician — better known as Mat Sabu — said Malaysia would increase its efforts and role in the existing trilateral maritime patrols around Sulu and Sabah region, calling on relevant parties to follow suit.

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Source: thejakartapost.com

IRGC-Affiliated Strategist Abbasi: ‘Every Navy Patrol… Should Catch 10-20 Americans’ For Ransom – To Solve Our Economic Problems

IRGC-affiliated strategist Hassan Abbasi said in a video that he uploaded to aparat.com on January 17, 2020 that the IRGC should “generate income” by capturing Americans and demanding a ransom for their return.

Abbasi, who was speaking at the city of Noushahr, gave the example of the $1.7 billion that Iran received for the return of Jason Rezaian and the $3 billion that Iran, he claims, received from Qatar because the aircraft that killed Qassem Soleimani had taken off from Qatar.

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Source: memri.org

Malaysian terror group working with Abu Sayyaf, says deputy home minister

Jason Santos

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman today confirmed that members of a Malaysian terror group are in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf from the southern Philippines.

He said police had first established this in 2018 following the arrests of seven Abu Sayaff men and a Malaysian in separate locations in Putrajaya and places like Tenom, Ranau and Kinarut in Sabah.

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Source: freemalaysiatoday.com

Lagos waterfront evictions highlight Nigeria oil and land squabbles

By Sophie BOUILLON

The lagoon waters at the port entrance to Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, are usually teeming with small fishing boats.

But the bustling waterfront slums of Lagos are now quiet after the navy evicted tens of thousands of residents from their homes in recent weeks.

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Source: modernghana.com

Dutch and Danish frigates to deploy in support of French maritime mission in the Persian Gulf

By Joanne Stocker

The France-led maritime mission to counter Iran in the Strait of Hormuz is set to officially start at the end of the month, the French defense ministry said on Thursday.

The European-led Maritime Awareness mission in the Strait Of Hormuz (EMASOH) is intended to prevent conflicts in the critical entrance to the Persian Gulf, the world’s busiest shipping waterway.

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Source: thedefensepost.com

Navy arrests 5 suspects, impounds 181 drums of PMS

Judex Okoro

The Nigerian Navy fight against smuggling activities on the waterways has continued unabated as the command has arrested five suspects.and impounded 4 boats.

The Navy also impounded 692 bags of foreign rice and 181 drums of PMS (petrol). The suspects, who were arrested in two separate locations around Fairway Buoy and Tom Shot Island, include Clement Okon Chali, Michael Ita Effiong, Felix Sunday, Aniefiok Effiong and Sunday Etim Bassey.

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Source: sunnewsonline.com

Saudi Boosts Arabian Gulf Security by Acquiring World’s Fastest Interceptor Speedboats

Obaid al-Suheimy

The Royal Saudi Navy reinforced its fleet with the world’s fastest speedboats and is preparing to receive a new batch of combat aircraft. The military boost is aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Arabian Gulf and protecting vital and strategic interests of Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, the Saudi Navy organized a celebration at the Ras Mashaab military port, located 236 km north of Dammam. During the event, three speedboats joined the fleet of marine vessels.

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Source: aawsat.com

ReCAAP urges mariners to avoid Sulu, Celebes seas after crew abduction

Ridzwan Rahmat

The Regional Co-operation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) has again called on mariners to re-route their journeys to avoid the Sulu and Celebes seas where possible.

The call was reiterated in the wake of another abduction-at-sea case, in which eight crew members were taken from a Malaysia-registered fishing trawler while it was at sea.

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Source: janes.com

Oil Theft: Navy Hands Over Vessel, Crew to EFCC

By Tony Orilade

MV Gratitude, a bunkered vessel and its crew of six, intercepted on January 9, 2020 by officers of the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, were today January 22, 2020 handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Commodore Suleiman Ibrahim, while handing over the vessel and crew disclosed that that the ship laden with 1,000,000 liters of locally refined automotive gas oil and it crew of six Nigerians namely, Victor Ita (captain), Rotimi Poroye, Henry Edet Bassey, Rahpael Adewale, Godswill Iko and Jonah Achieve were arrested at the Brass inshore water anchorage. He assured of the navy’s determination to clear the waterways of illegal oil bunkering and sea pirates for legitimate business operators to thrive.

Tasiu Abubakar, a superintendent of police who received the vessel and crew members on behalf of the EFCC, promised diligent investigation of the alleged crime.

Tony Orilade Acting Head, Media & Publicity

Oil Theft: DPR Pledges Support to EFCC

The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has pledge to improve its collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in fighting oil theft and other petroleum related economic crimes in the Niger Delta.

Mr. Bassey Nkanga, the Zonal Operations Controller of DPR in Port Harcourt gave the assurance on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 when he received a team from the EFCC Zonal office in Port Harcourt, led by the new Head, Mr Usman Imam.

According to Nkanga, the DPR gives EFCC priority in the analysis of product samples, “because we recognize the importance and urgency to release quality status in aid of your investigations.”

Though he observed some recent challenges in the relationship between the two agencies, the Zonal Operations Controller was quick to assure that the challenges would not affect the tempo of collaboration. “We believe the relationship between the EFCC and DPR will continue to be strong because we recognize that what you do is in the best interest of Nigeria and nothing will stop us from collaborating with EFCC. We will double the efforts,” he said.

Responding, the EFCC Zonal Head, Imam thanked the DPR management for receiving his team despite the short notice.

According to him, “My mission here is to get acquainted with you and explore how we can continue to strengthen the collaboration between our agencies. I need not overemphasize the fact that we have, and continue to benefit from the resources of the DPR.

“Your technical input in the areas of petroleum products analysis to determine the type, quality, and quantity; as well as the documentation of oil bearing vessels, have greatly assisted our investigations of oil theft, which is a major activity of the zonal office.

Imam pledged to build on the foundation of close collaboration established by his predecessors. He urged the management of the DPR to put behind them the challenges experienced in the past, assuring of a new vista of robust synergy and collaboration in the fight against illegal oil bunkering and other maritime related economic crimes.

Source: prnigeria.com