Nigeria: Congolese cargo ship crew held hostage by pirates

Event

A Congolese cargo ship was attacked by pirates near the island of Bonny, off the Niger Delta in the Gulf of Guinea, on Monday, July 31. The ship was recovered by the Nigerian Navy, who towed it into the harbor for investigation. However, five crew members - including two Moroccan nationals - 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. 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.