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

BREAKING: Kidnappers Abandon Abducted Navy Commandant Inside Ondo Forest

Lt Commander Ajare Uchegbulah Amadi, a commandant of the Nigerian Navy abducted last week around the Oba Akoko area of Ondo State, has been rescued.

Amadi was set free on Wednesday afternoon after his abductors abandoned him in a forest.

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Source: saharareporters.com

Russian sailors captured off Benin’s coast released

The kidnapped crewmembers of Tommi Ritscher container ship included three Russians, according to earlier data

TASS, May 25. Eight sailors, including Russians citizens, who were captured off the Beninese coast have been released in neighboring Nigeria, head of the operation to save sailors, admiral Oladele Daji said Monday.

“We are hoping to ask them questions, but it is too early now, at least one of them is too weak,” Agence France-Presse quoted him as saying.

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Source: tass.com

9 Georgian sailors kidnapped in Nigeria released

Nine Georgian sailors who have been kidnapped by pirates from a ship flying the Panamese flag in Nigeria have been released and will return to their homeland in several days.

Tamar Ioseliani, head of the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia, said that a special flight will be carried out to bring the sailors back home.

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Source: agenda.ge

Navy Recovers N75bn Stolen Petroleum Products

By Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Nigeria Navy has said it recovered N75 billion worth of stolen petroleum products in five years. The products recovered between 2015 and 2019 include crude oil, diesel and petrol.

It said a total of 2,287 illegal refineries were discovered and destroyed within the same period.

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Source: thisdaylive.com

Customs intercept N1.2b cannabis on Lagos waters

Lagos

Operatives of the Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) have intercepted drugs suspected to be Cannabis Sativa valued at N1,002,050,000 during a seagoing patrol on Lagos waters.

The Controller of the command, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, revealed this in a statement in Lagos on Thursday.

Peters described the seizure as the “largest single seizure” of such drug on the waters in the history of the Nigeria Customs.

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Source: pulse.ng

Jamoh: Inter-agency Collaboration Key to Maritime Security

By Eromosele Abiodun

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has restated its commitment to collaboration among relevant agencies and stakeholders for the security of the country’s maritime domain.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, stated this in Lagos during the official handover of pirates arrested by the Nigerian Navy for prosecution.

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Source: thisdaylive.com

Pirates Attack Cypriot Flagged Cargo Vessel Off Nigeria’s Shore In Gulf Of Guinea- Reports

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – 21st May, 2020) Pirates have attacked a cargo vessel sailing under the Cypriot flag in the Gulf of Guinea near the Nigerian southern state of Bayelsa, Dryad Global company specializing in maritime security said on Wednesday.

All crew members of the ESL AUSTRALIA vessel managed to hide in a specially equipped room, according to the company.

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Source: urdupoint.com

Nigeria to prosecute pirates under new law

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has restated its commitment to collaborate with relevant agencies and stakeholders for the security of the country’s maritime domain.

Director-General of the agency, Bashir Jamoh, stated this in Lagos during the official handover of pirates arrested by the Nigerian Navy for prosecution.

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Source: shipsandports.com.ng