20 February
Whilst on an eastern transit towards Lagos the tanker, Alpine Penelope was attacked and illegally boarded 76nm SW Cotonou 05°08’31”N – 002°06’14.4”E. The vessel was targeted approximately 140 km (76 mi) southwest of Cotonou. According to media reports, communication with the vessel was cut off after an alert was sent by the tanker. At least ten members of the crew were abducted. Further details regarding the incident have not been released as of Thursday.
The threat of piracy in Beninese waters is high. The country’s territorial waters see intermittent hijackings and robberies, and Lloyd’s of London continues to designate Benin as part of its High-Risk Area in the Gulf of Guinea. Benin’s proximity to Nigeria, where most groups of armed pirates originate, makes vessels sailing to the Port of Cotonou particularly susceptible to attacks. Beninese and Nigerian patrols in the Gulf of Guinea have had some success in bringing down the number of reported incidents, but the risk remains high.
Niger Delta: Pirate attack
16 February
Gunmen suspected to be pirates attacked an oil barge along the waterways of Lutegbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area in Bayelsa State 20:20 LT Location: 04°49.166’N 005°31.100’E.
It is reported that they killed four soldiers escorting the barge and two civilians. Others in the vessel were said to have escaped with gunshot wounds by diving into the water and swimming to safety.
The incident reportedly unsettled the community as troops were said to have mobilised to the area, asking residents to produce the perpetrators.
Multiple sources, who confirmed the development, said angry soldiers had started burning some houses in the area due to residents’ inability to identify the suspects. (Not confirmed).
It is reported the soldiers were escorting the barge from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Warri in Delta State when it came under attack. No further information is available at present.
The origins of piracy in the Niger Delta are closely linked to the historical conflict in the region, which has evolved and seen armed groups extend their activities to include various criminal enterprises. Criminal groups engaged in stealing oil directly from pipelines have also attacked vessels carrying oil products at sea and in the Niger Delta. This typically involves pirate gangs seizing a vessel, siphoning the oil to another ship and then releasing the ship before making off with the cargo. Pirate gangs operating out of Nigeria are typically heavily armed and respond violently when confronted.
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