On October 21, armed pirates attacked a German-owned cargo vessel off the coast of Port Harcourt, and kidnapped six crew members in a daring raid that has heightened concerns over insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of, saw the heavily armed gunmen board the vessel approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Rivers State.
According to security sources, the pirates, operating in two speedboats, overpowered the ship’s crew before whisking away six expatriate sailors to an unknown destination.
The remaining crew members were said to have raised alarm, prompting a distress call to the Nigerian Navy and the German shipping company.
Confirming the incident, a source at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said the agency was working with naval authorities to secure the release of the abducted sailors.
“We are aware of the attack on a German-flagged vessel off Port Harcourt. Six crew members were taken. Efforts are ongoing to ensure their safe release,” the source said.
The Gulf of Guinea, particularly the waters off the Niger Delta, has become notorious for piracy and armed robbery at sea, with several attacks recorded in recent months targeting merchant vessels and oil installations.
Maritime security experts have repeatedly called for increased naval patrols and international collaboration to curb the menace.
