Crude Oil Theft: JTF Takes Over Six Suspects, Seven Boats From Navy

Sylvester Idowu

The Joint Task Force (JTF) codenamed Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) has taken over six suspected oil thieves and seven loaded Cotonou boats from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Delta), Warri, for further investigation.

During the handing over ceremony at the NNS Delta’s base in Warri, its Commander, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu disclosed that the suspects were arrested with products believed to be illegally refined diesel, also known as AGO, estimated to be 540,000 liters.

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Source: thisdaylive.com

Nigeria, Gulf of Guinea nations partner on sea border patrol

By Eugene Agha Lagos

The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gulf of Guinea nations that will allow for a seamless border patrol.

The Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Obed Ngalabak, disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos yesterday on the activities to flag off this year’s multinational sea exercise code name “OBANGAME”.

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Source: dailytrust.com.ng

Nigerian Pirates Kidnap Five After Firefight with Escort Boat

According to the ICC IMB’s Piracy Report, Nigerian pirates kidnapped five crewmembers from an OSV in the Gulf of Guinea last weekend despite the efforts of a security escort vessel. After an active firefight between the escort and the attackers, pirates boarded the target vessel, ransacked its cabins and made off with the victims.

At about 1115 hours UTC on Saturday, at a position about 30 nm off Brass, Nigeria, armed pirates in two speed boats approached an OSV under way. The OSV’s captain called for help from what IMB ICC described as a “naval escort security boat,” which maneuvered to engage the attackers. One speed boat closed in from port side of the vessel and crossed the bow, while the other speed boat exchanged fire with the security boat.

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Source: maritime-executive.com

Piracy on Nigerian waters: The truth

Globally, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre, based in Singapore, recorded 201 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery in 2018, up from 180 in 2017. The Gulf of Guinea remained increasingly dangerous for seafarers as reports of attacks in waters between the Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo more than doubled in 2018.

The expansion of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea poses a dire threat to local economies, potentially undermining what little stability currently exists in the region. Oil revenue, which many countries in the region rely upon, is seriously threatened by pirate activity; 7 per cent of Nigeria’s oil wealth is believed lost due to such criminality.

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Source: vanguardngr.com

Navy 2018 score card: 340 suspects arrested over alleged maritime offences

…277,040 crude oil, 23.1m litres AGO,1.2m DPK, lost to illegal refining …46 vessels arrested

By Evelyn Usman

One of the ills bedeviling the security space of the country’s coastline has been the scourge of maritime crimes such as piracy , sea robbery , crude oil theft , bunkering , insurgency and hostage taking.

Often times , Nigerians are daunted with news of criminal elements who hide under the veneer of these maritime crimes to inflict untold emotional and psychological trauma on innocent and defenseless sailors.

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Source: vanguardngr.com

Attacks on trawlers have reduced – FG, Fishing trawlers

By Godwin Oritse

THE Nigerian Trawler Owners Association, NITOA, and the Federal Department of Fishery and Agriculture, have said that there has been a drastic reduction in pirates attacks against fishing trawlers.

Speaking to Vanguard Maritime Report, President of the association, Mr. Amire Akinbola, said although he could not make the figures available to our correspondent, the report of such attacks was very minimal last year.

Maritime Security News Note:

This may well be the case for Nigerian fishermen, but it’s a different story for crew on other vessels. On Feb. 24th, eight Chinese crew were reportedly kidnapped from fishing vessels off Cameroon.

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Source: vanguardngr.com

Why Piracy Persists In Nigeria’s Maritime Sector ― Navy

By Tola Adenubi – Lagos

The Head, Maritime Guard Command of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Navy Capt. Yahuza Badamosi has revealed that delay in passage of the Piracy Bill and the slow judicial process in the country are major reasons piracy attacks persists on Nigerian waterways.

Speaking recently when the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) paid a courtesy visit to the NIMASA management in Lagos, Navy Capt. Badamosi explained that there is no law yet in the country that criminalizes piracy activities.

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Source: tribuneonlineng.com