Sea Pirates Kidnap 7 Staff Of ExxonMobil Aboard A Supply Vessel On Equatorial Guinea Waterway

Date: 22-11-2019 5:01 pm (4 years ago) | Author: Chris Brazz
- at 22-11-2019 05:01 PM (4 years ago)
(m)


The US oil giant ExxonMobil said seven crew aboard a supply ship for its operations in Equatorial Guinea have been kidnapped by Gulf of Guinea pirates.

The men were kidnapped from the supply ship Warden when “pirates” attacked the vessel on Wednesday, the island country’s oil and gas ministry said on Friday.

The ship was chartered from the oil services firm Swire.

The 15-member crew comprised nationals from South Africa, the Philippines, Serbia and Cameroon.

“Eight hid and seven were kidnapped,” the statement said.

The vessel had left the oilfield of Zafiro, 12 nautical miles off the coast, and was heading to Luba, a port town on the southern island of Bioko, when it was attacked.

The statement gave no details about the kidnappers or their motives.

Equatorial Guinea is located on the southern rim of the Gulf of Guinea, one of the world’s hotspots for maritime piracy.

In the first nine months of this year, the region accounted for 82 percent of crew kidnappings around the world, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), an organisation monitoring crimes at sea.

In 2018, attacks doubled over the previous year.

Pirates in the Gulf of Guinea sometimes divert ships for several days, long enough to plunder the cargo and demand huge ransoms before freeing the crew.

On Nov 4, four sailors were kidnapped and a guard was shot and wounded when suspected pirates stormed an oil tanker off the coast of Togo.

Two days earlier, pirates attacked a Norwegian-owned ship waiting to berth at the port of Cotonou in Benin, taking eight crew and the captain.

In August, Russia, Chinese and Ukrainian seamen were seized in attacks on merchant ships off Cameroon’s port of Douala.

The countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea, an arc that stretches some 6,000km from Angola to Liberia in the north, have limited surveillance and maritime defence capabilities.

They been trying for several years to bolster their means of intervention and improve regional collaboration with US and French help.


Posted: at 22-11-2019 05:01 PM (4 years ago) | Gistmaniac

fire TRENDING GISTS fire

TODAY'S TOP
  1. See Remarkable Transformation Of Nigerian Couple That Wows Many

  2. World Cup Kiss Scandal: Disgraced Spanish FA Chief, Luis Rubiales Facing 2.5 Years In Prison

  3. BREAKING: Military Declares Professor, Woman, Others Wanted Over Soldiers’ Killing In Delta

  4. Comedian, Seyi Law And Wife Celebrate 13th Wedding Anniversary With Romantic Photos

  5. VIDEO: Actress, Toyin Abraham Reunites With Senior Collogue, Bukky Wright

  6. Proud Father Of 5 Daughters Hails Natural Skin Color Of His Daughter Without Glowing Cream

  7. Air Peace Boss, Onyeoma Says Earning N200k Salary In Nigeria Is Better Than £2000 In The UK

  8. Popular Gospel Singer, Dunsin Oyekan Allegedly Engages Lover Secretly, Set To Remarry

  9. "He Slept With My Girlfriend" – KWAM 1 Ex-Drummer Kunle Ayanlowo Continues To Drag Him

  10. Labour Party Offers Peter Obi 2027 Presidential Ticket Unopposed

  11. Adesua Etomi Pens Romantic Birthday Message To Husband, Banky W On His Birthday

  12. Pres. Tinubu Offers Slain Soldiers’ Children Scholarships

  13. “Two Broke People Dating Should Be A Crime” – Cynthia Morgan Claims

  14. Two Killed As Police Engage In Gun Battle With Notorious Bandits

  15. How Police Neutralise Two Notorious Bandits In Benue

  16. Police Arrest Witch Doctor, 25 Others Linked To Snatching Of 79 Cars In Rivers

  17. Rescued Kaduna Schoolchildren To Reunite With Families Today


THIS WEEK
  1. Russia President Putin Shocks Many As He Announces That Jesus And Mary Were Black

  2. Ex Chelsea Star, Geremi Njitap Files For Divorce After DNA Reveal He Isn't Father Of Their Twin

  3. VIDEO: Nigerian-Born UFC Fighter, Israel Adesanya Launches Real Estates Business In New Zealand

  4. Netizens React To Influencer, Enioluwa’s Alleged Leaked S*x Tape

  5. "He Must Have Range Rover, Benz, BMW, At Least ₦100m” - Lady Sets Standards For Suitors (Video)

  6. Kim Kardashian Finally Opens Up On Why She Divorced Kanye West

  7. “Stay Clear Of Verydarkman Matter” – Samklef Issues Warning To Davido

  8. 'Nigeria Will Be Consumed If Kanu Dies In Custody' – IPOB Warns

  9. Selena Gomez Shares Sexy Photo As She Put On A Very BUsty Display

  10. Man Videos Himself Taking His Own Life on Facebook Because His Girlfriend Cheated on Him


TOP MEMBERS: