Richard Ginika Izuora
The Nigerian Navy has bursted a gang of pirates that attacked a Chinese vessel and led it into Nigerian waters.
The Navy in a statement by Commodore Ibrahim Shettima; the Commander Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT on Monday confirmed it successfully rescued the 18 crew members on board the vessel, identified as MV HAILUFANG II.
Also, Shettima said that the crew members were rescued on Thursday, May 15, 2020.
He said that the rescued crew members, comprising Chinese, Ghanaians and Ivorians, were attacked by pirates; off the coast of Cote d’Ivoire.
Thereafter, the vessel was navigated towards Nigerian waters before the Navy intervened.
‘‘I am here to make a brief on the rescue efforts of the Nigerian Navy in a recent pirate attack within the Gulf of Guinea (GoG). On May 15, a Chinese vessel, MV HAILUFANG II, was attacked by pirates off the coast of Cote d’Ivoire.
“The pirates took control of the vessel and directed the vessel toward Nigerian waters. The vessel had 18 crew members, comprising Chinese, Ghanaians and Ivorians,” he said.
Shettima said that the Nigerian Navy was alerted of the attack; adding that it immediately dispatched the NNS NGURU to intercept the vessel.
“On interception of the vessel at about 140nm south of Lagos Fairway Buoy; the pirates refused to comply with the orders of the Navy Ship. Hence, the NN had to conduct an opposed boarding of the vessel. All ship’s crew were safely rescued, while the 10 pirates were arrested,” he said.
The statement noted that the last five known or documented attacks by pirates were outside Nigerian waters; which the Navy responded in the interest of regional security.
“This is aptly captured in the NN Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy, which covers Nigeria’s outermost maritime area of interest; encompassing the entire West African waters and the GoG.
This underscores the need for increased regional cooperation in terms of information sharing and further deepening of response capability.
‘‘For instance, this rescue effort was bolstered by additional intel received from the Beninous Navy during the operation.’’