Saturday marks a horrifying experience following a pirate attack off Nigeria`s coast. This incident took place on a Turkish container ship on the Gulf of Guinea. The attack is nothing short of violence, nonetheless being a little further away from the shore. Apparently, Pirate attacks in this region are not new. The M/V Mozart, which is the name of the ship, was attacked late evening on Saturday. Security officers` checklist indicates a total of 15 Turkey nationals under Kidnap. There was one casualty of the Azerbaijani state, Mr. Farman Ismayilov.
Well planned ordeal
The attack was no ordinary. Statements from surviving crew members insinuate that the raiding of the ship came with a well-outlaid plan. Interviews from family members and the fact that the vessel’s raiding was something the pirates were already looking forward to. Security officers much confirm these statements with evidence.
According to the security personnel findings, the ship`s protective citadel was breached. The Ambrey Security Company confirms four armed men on board the ship’s fortress. There was no Guaranteed safety for the crew members. Hence making the kidnap even easier for them since everyone is now at their disposal.
Explosives top the list for engagement in the attacks. Observations indicate that, just as the ship was about to dock at Port Gentil in Gabon, the pirates made their forceful entry into the ship. It must have been a successful day for the pirates.
An account of pirate attacks in Nigeria
As mentioned earlier, this is not the first pirate attack in Nigeria. As you might recall, back in 2019, a similar attack was launched. 10 Turkish nationals were kidnapped as a result. The Gulf Pirates, last year alone, kidnapped 130 sailors in 22 incidents. It indeed calls for safety measures to be in place to help protect sailors in this pirate region.
Reason for the Heightened attack
Recalling the 2019 attacks and kidnap, the main agenda for these Pirates seems to be ransom oriented. The 2019 hostages were released on a paid ransom from the Turkish government. However, things might not go as planned in this attack. Already the Turkish government has dispensed a rescue team to help bring back its people. This might be a game-changer in the Pirate`s plans.
Call for safety
Now more than ever, stringent measures need to be put in place to help reduce the region’s insecurity. There needs a stop to the level of piracy. Especially now that lives are in danger due to the use of arms in the pirating. The CEO of the EOS Risk Group in the UK, David Johnson, foresees the use of such a level of violence as a game-changer for the pirates.
Moreover, international pressure is due in time following the recent fatal incident. As a result, more policies and actions need to be taken against the pirates. The pirates are yet to reach out to the Turkish government. Hopefully, the Pirates do not head for Nigeria`s Delta; otherwise, Turkey will have a hard time retrieving the hostages.
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