Denmark to Deploy Frigate to Gulf of Guinea to Combat Piracy

Expressing its serious concern about the maritime security situation in the Gulf of Guinea, the Danish government announced that it plans to deploy a frigate to the region in the fall of 2021. The decision to deploy a naval vessel to the region comes after the Danish Minister of Defense and shipping companies including Maersk had spoken out on the dangers in the region and called for greater action.

As the world’s fifth-largest marine nation, Denmark says on average there are 30 to 40 Danish operated ships sailing through the Gulf of Guinea daily. They placed the value of the trade at $1.6 billion annually but as a seafaring nation said they believed their obligations extended to protecting all commercial shipping and the right to free navigation.

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Source: maritime-executive.com

EFCC Docks Five For Alleged Oil Theft

The Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 arraigned Enemo Okoria; Ebhofage Brown; Francis Dapagamo, a Tugboat DP28 and a company, Diesel Power Nigeria Limited before Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on two- count charges bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum product without an appropriate licence.

They all pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, J.N Dogonyaro prayed the court for a date to commence trial.

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Source: channelstv.com

Oil theft: Navy begins Exercise Cold Waters

From Femi Folaranmi

The Nigerian Navy as part of efforts to assess the combat readiness of the its’ men towards tackling maritime insecurity, especially crude oil theft and piracy within the Central Naval Command (CNC) Area of Operations (AOR), has flagged off exercise COLD WATERS (EX AMI JIJI).

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) CNC, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, who flagged off the exercise, yesterday ,disclosed that the overall objective is to work towards fulfilling the CNC mandate of securing the nation’s maritime space.

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Source: sunnewsonline.com

15 crew abducted from chemical tanker by pirates off Benin

Jason Jiang

A 2016-built chemical tanker have been boarded by pirates off Cotonou, Benin on Thursday and the 15 crew members onboard the ship have been kidnapped.

According to maritime safety consultancy Dryad Global, the 2016-built 19,800 dwt tanker Davide B, operated by Dutch company De Poli Shipmanagement, has been boarded by nine armed men.

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Source: splash247.com

NIMASA, Navy tackling insecurity, says Jamoh

By Muyiwa Lucas

The Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have strengthened maritime security with the deployment of hitech assets for vessel protection.

Both organisations are intensifying efforts to protect, interdict, and deter threats around vessels anchored in the Secure Anchorage Area (SAA), off the coast of Lagos.

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Source: thenationonlineng.net

Nigerian Navy deploys 14 warships to fight piracy

By Philip Nwosu

The Nigerian Navy has deployed 14 warships and two helicopters to tackle the rising cases of pirates attacks in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

Intelligence from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) had indicated an increase in sea crime around the GoG. The force reaffirmed its commitment to urgently restore normalcy in the nation’s maritime zone and emplace a conducive environment for maritime business to flourish.

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Source: sunnewsonline.com

Nigeria: Gunmen Kidnap 15 in Abuja, Bayelsa, Katsina

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted three persons along Gaube-Kabbi road in Kuje Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Also, a traditional ruler in Brass Local Government identified as Chief Eriakuma Moses and six other travellers along Odioma waterways in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State were yesterday kidnapped by sea pirates.

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Source: allafrica.com

Navy arrests 17 suspected pirates, destroys militant camps

Patrick Odey

The Nigerian Navy, NNS Jubilee, located in the Ikot-Abasi Local Government area of Akwa Ibom State said it has arrested 17 suspected sea pirates and destroyed 15 militant camps during its anti-piracy and anti-sea robbery operations within the last six months.

The Commander, Abdulmajid Ibrahim, during a briefing on Thursday, said the destruction of the camps was made possible through the penetration of about 1,800 creeks within the jurisdiction of the base.

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Source: punchng.com

Nigeria’s navy to toughen punishment for collusion with kidnappers

By Camillus Eboh, Libby George

ABUJA/LAGOS (Reuters) – Nigeria’s navy plans to strengthen its measures to root out and punish personnel who collude with kidnappers and criminals, its new naval chief said.

Kidnappings in the Gulf of Guinea, which covers 2.3 million sq km and borders some 20 countries, hit a record last year, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

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Source: reuters.com

CSIS: A Transatlantic Approach to Address Growing Maritime Insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea

Written by Pierre Morcos

The recent news headline said it all: “Pirates kidnap 15 Turkish sailors in attack on container ship” off the Nigerian coast in the Gulf of Guinea. A vast maritime zone of 2.3 million square kilometers and 5700 kilometers of coastline with considerable economic wealth, the Gulf of Guinea has recently been plagued by a succession of acts of piracy, making this maritime space one of the most dangerous and unstable in the world.

While Europe and the United States have been engaged in the region for many years, this deteriorating security situation requires renewed transatlantic engagement. In a context of repeated calls for a renewed partnership between Washington and Europe, the Gulf of Guinea could be a prime candidate for demonstrating the benefits of transatlantic collaboration.

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Source: defenceweb.co.za