Nigeria: Suspected pirates kidnap five in Cross River state September 18

Event

According to unconfirmed reports, a Cameroonian cargo ship was attacked by pirates on speedboats in Calabar (Cross River state) near Parrot Island, on Monday, September 18.  Four Cameroonian crewmembers and one Nigerian are reportedly being held hostage. No communication has been established with the pirates and their location, as well as the location of the hostages, is currently unknown.

Context

There is a high risk of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea near Nigeria. According to the International Maritime Bureau, the number of pirate attacks off the coast of Nigeria increased from 14 in 2015 to 36 in 2016.

In the first quarter of 2017, 63 percent of the 27 seafarers kidnapped for ransom worldwide were in the Gulf of Guinea. To curb the crime rate, the Nigerian Navy has launched several operations targeting pirates. Although arrests have been made and attempted hijacks averted, the risk of piracy has not been fully mitigated. Hostages captured by Nigerian pirates tend to be released following the payment of a ransom.

Advice

Maritime travel through areas off the Nigerian coast is advised against due to the threat of piracy.