Pirates attack vessels, kidnap 13 crew members on Nigeria waters

Eight crew members have been abducted during a pirate attack on a Cameroonian flagged vessel M/V STEVIA (IMO8107000) while in transit from Port Harcourt to Abidjan.

It was learnt that the vessel was attacked around 8:00 am on Wednesday, December 16.

Similarly, on Tuesday, December 15, an underway general cargo ship was attacked by criminals approximately 45NM South West of Brass, Nigeria.

Report says eight armed pirates in a speed boat attacked the vessel and also abducted five crew members before escaping.

The armed men looted the ship stores and robbed the crew members.

However, the remaining crew continued with the vessel to a safe port.

The Nigeria waters have been susceptible to pirate attacks lately.

Recall that pirates hijacked MV DELTA, a Ghanaian flagged vessel with the registration number (IMO 9015929) and kidnapped 5 crew members who are all believed to be Ghanaians on November 16.

The vessel was attacked by about 7 pirates in position 03° 32.07 N 006° 09.04 E, 44 NM S of Brass, Nigeria.

Similarly, a passenger boat was attacked by pirates, on May 23, 2020, while transiting from Bakana to Degema, Rivers State, which led to the abduction of two Nigerians.

However, marine police on October 5, arrested four pirates who tried to rob a passenger boat within the Bonny River in Rivers State.

Also, Eons Intelligence on November 27 reported that the Police in Rivers State arrested Dan Eze George, a notorious pirate who has been terrorizing passengers along the Port Harcourt/Bonny waterways in the State.

George was arrested after his gang attacked a passenger boat trying to cart away some items which claimed one life along the waterways.