Kidnapping risk in Gulf of Guinea persists with 21 crew members kidnapped in Q1 2019

American, African & Chinese Navies Gathering at The International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference in Ghana This July

– International Maritime Bureau: 22 Piracy Attacks in Q1, 2019

Admiral James G. Foggo, III: A safe, stable, and secure Africa is in the interest of the global community, our shared goals of a secure, stable, and prosperous Africa benefits not only our African partners and the U.S., but also the international community

– Rear Admiral Koi Alexis Maomou: IMDEC is a great opportunity to give, receive and discover new technological and scientific inventions in the field of defence and maritime safety

20 captains, commodores, rear admirals, vice admirals, & admirals discussing illegal oil-bunkering, piracy, unregulated and unreported fishing, smuggling, human and drug trafficking, illegal bunkering and crude oil theft on the 24^th & 25^th of July in Accra

Dubai and Accra, 27 June 2019

In the first quarter of 2019, IMB reported 38 incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea, representing 28 fewer incidents than the first quarter of 2018 (66). IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre detailed that 27 vessels were boarded; seven vessels were fired upon and four attempted attacks occurred in the first quarter of 2019. No vessels were reported as hijacked for the first time since the first quarter of 1994.

The Gulf of Guinea represented a high number of piracy and armed robbery attacks at sea, with 22 incidents reported in the first quarter of 2019. The region also accounted for all of the worldwide crew kidnappings as 21 crew members were kidnapped across five separate incidents. Incidents were reported in the coastal countries, of Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo in the first quarter of 2019.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: businessghana.com

Five Indian sailors abducted in Nigeria rescued: Shipping Ministry

The High Commission of India in Abuja, Nigeria sought help from the Nigerian Navy to track the whereabouts of the missing Indian sailors, which in turn roped in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to lead the rescue efforts.

Five Indian seafarers who had been kidnapped about two-and-a-half months earlier in Nigeria were rescued on Thursday, according to a statement issued by the Shipping Ministry.

“I am happy to share that due to sustained efforts of various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Shipping, the Directorate General of Shipping and the High Commission of India in Abuja, Nigeria, the kidnapped Indian seafarers were successfully released and reached the safe custody of Indian authorities on June 27,” Union Minister of State for Shipping, Mansukh L Mandaviya said.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: hindustantimes.com

Piracy is back to infest West African waters, but what’s driving it?

ABHISHEK MISHRA

What makes the waters of the Gulf of Guinea vulnerable to piracy?

When it comes to discussing the concept of maritime security, the concept can be discussed in a variety of contexts. Broadly defined, maritime security concerns the protection of states’ land and maritime territories, and is affected by a broad range of illegal activities, including arms, drugs, and human trafficking, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and pollution at sea. But, such acts only tends to get media coverage when pirates are involved.

African maritime security is particularly severely affected by maritime piracy and armed robbery at sea. Maritime piracy is not a new phenomenon; it has existed for as long as people and commodities have traversed the oceans. Under article 101 of UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, piracy is defined as:

“Any acts of violence, detention, or depredation committed on the high seas by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft against another ship, aircraft, persons, or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any state for private ends.”

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: orfonline.org

Wave of Delta kidnappings rings alarm bells

After a relative calm period, unrest in the Niger delta could be on the rise

Eromo Egbejule

Fears that militant violence and sabotage in the Niger delta are about to take off again has been fuelled by a spate of kidnappings of oil industry workers over recent weeks.

In one incident, two Royal Dutch Shell workers were abducted in Nigeria’s oil rich Rivers state in late April 2019, while their police escorts were killed. The two workers—from Canada and the UK—were released after a week, but there are concerns that there will be more problems to come, as Delta unrest picks up after a relatively quiet period.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: petroleum-economist.com

Curfew in ESSZone extended until July 10

KOTA KINABALU: Curfew in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) which ends tomorrow, has been extended until July 10.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah in a statement today said the curfew from 6pm to 6am covers the waters of Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: thesundaily.my

Abus release 9 hostages

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Abu Sayyaf gunmen released nine hostages after finding that they were Bajau fishermen who had no money to pay for their ransom, Malaysian and Philippine officials said on Saturday.

The military said the nine men were found walking along a road in Talipao, Sulu, on Friday, three days after they were abducted in waters off Lahad Datu in Borneo on June 18.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: globalnation.inquirer.net

Eight men held in connection with kidnapping of fishermen in Lahad Datu, says CID Chief

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Eight men have been arrested to help in investigations into the kidnapping of 10 Bajau Laut fishermen (sea gypsies) in Felda waters in Lahad Datu, Sabah on Tuesday (June 18), says CID director Datuk Huzir Mohamed.

He said six of those arrested are foreigners, aged between 17 and 60, who were spared by the armed kidnappers on Tuesday.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: thestar.com.my

Suspected Abu Sayyaf Group kidnaps crew

Reports coming from Sabah suggest that Abu Sayyaf Group terrorists have kidnapped 10 crew from two fishing boats early on Tuesday 18th.

Media reports state that the incidents near Borneo Island, when two speedboats approached two fishing vessels. “Pirates” boarded the boats at around 2am LT, confiscated documents likely to relate to the nationality of the crew members, and then took 10 hostages before fleeing towards Sitangkai Island in the Philippines. The fishing boats were believed to be operating during curfew hours without a permit, according to a report in The Straits Times. The remaining crew were picked up by the MMEA.

The incident comes after a prolonged lull in kidnapping activities by the group. However, the loss of hostages in recent rescues and killings would suggest that the group is now looking to increase its funds by further Kidnap For Ransom efforts.

The incident prompted Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to call for further security measures in Sabah, an area which has seen cross border criminality and kidnapping at sea in recent years.

Anti-piracy bill will combat maritime crime as sector creates 7,000 jobs

By Tope Templer Olaiya, Sulaimon Salau, Gloria Ehiaghe (Lagos) and Rotimi Agboluaje (Ibadan)

Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, has said the agency was taking strategic steps to deal with maritime piracy.

He disclosed that the anti-piracy bill, sponsored by NIMASA, has been passed by the National Assembly and as soon as it is signed into law, it would help tame piracy in and open up more opportunities in the sector.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: guardian.ng

Another Marine battalion to be deployed in Sulu

Jaime Laude

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Marines Corps (PMC) is sending another battalion to Sulu to help in the operations against Abu Sayyaf bandits in the province and nearby areas.

Capt. Felix Serapio Jr., PMC spokesman, said the 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-8) is ready for deployment in Sulu after a nine-month training in Manila.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: philstar.com