There are reports indicating a resurgence of piracy in West African waters, especially in the approaches to Lagos, Nigeria, Lome in Togo and Cotonou in Benin Republic
In the past one week, three ships have been attacked while approaching Lagos, Lome and Cotonou.
In one of such incidents, a cargo vessel; Huanghai Glory, was boarded by pirates. The ship had 23 crew members on board believed to be Chinese nationals.
The ship is believed to have been boarded by pirates some 84 nautical miles off South Lagos on March 5, 2020.
The attack on Huanghai Glory took place a few hours after a similar attack on another ship; MT Minerva Virgo, some 45nm South Cotonou.
A spokeswoman for Minerva Marine said the Minerva Virgo was boarded some 45 miles (72 kilometers) off the coast of Benin on Thursday on its way from The Netherlands to Lagos, Nigeria.
She said most of the crew, including six Greeks were able to take refuge under standard safety procedures in a safe part of the vessel that, once secured, is inaccessible from the outside.
Greek merchant marine authorities said it appeared that one seaman who didn’t make it in time was captured by the attackers, but that was still under investigation.
The Minerva Marine spokeswoman said the company was in contact with officials on shore seeking a vessel to approach the Minerva Virgo and pursue the pirates.
The tanker’s management company also said most of the crew were able to take refuge under standard safety procedures in a so-called panic room that once secured, is inaccessible from the outside.
While one seafarer was reportedly captured by the pirates, investigations are still underway for more information to be available as it is an ongoing incident.
This incident itself,followed another approach of a vessel 50nm South Lomé. In the Lome incident, the ship; STI Bosphorous was approached by one skiff with 9-10 POB.
Security report confirmed that, the tanker took evasive manoeuvres, and increased her speed and activated the fire hoses. The skiff approached to less than 1nm from the tanker before discontinuing her approach.
The reports also indicate that it is highly likely that perpetrators of all three incidents reported are the same grouping, originating from within Nigeria.
The abrupt rise in piracy in the Gulf of Guinea since 2019, especially in the waters off Togo and Benin has been attributed by Dryad to a lack of coordinated security measures beyond the Nigerian EEZ.
Since 2019, there has been an increase in maritime security incidents involving vessel boarding and kidnappings within the waters off Togo and Benin, but also a slight increase in incidents beyond the generally accepted heart of Nigerian piracy within the Niger Delta area.
Reports also say that this is, in part, assessed to be due to the increased risks facing perpetrators within the Nigerian EEZ as a result of enhanced security coordination and the increasingly prevalent use of Security Escort Vessels. This is combined with an effective lack of coordinated security measures beyond the Nigerian EEZ has led to perpetrators to travel further in search of high yield targets.
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