IMB warns Nigeria, others on resurgence of piracy in Gulf of Guinea

The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has issued a warning to Nigeria and other countries in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) regarding the safety of vessel crews, who are at risk of piracy and armed robbery attacks.

The IMB conveyed this message in its third-quarter 2024 report on global piracy, which indicated that incidents of piracy and armed robbery fell to their lowest levels in the first nine months of 2024 since 1994.

According to the report, 12 incidents were reported in the Gulf of Guinea region from January to September 2024, marking the lowest number of reports since 1996.

IMB stated that while the decrease in reported incidents is welcome, concerns remain over crew safety, with 11 crew members kidnapped and 21 taken hostage.

Recall that between July and September, pirates attacked and abducted boat passengers in the Bonny waterways, Rivers state. Although the IMB reported 79 incidents from all piracy-prone areas during the same period, down from 99 incidents in the previous year, stating that there are still serious safety concerns.

The IMB noted that of the 62 vessels boarded, six were hijacked, nine faced attempted attacks, and two were fired upon. The report stated that in 86 per cent of the incidents, perpetrators successfully gained access to the vessels, with most incidents occurring at night.

The report also highlighted ongoing violence towards crew members, with 111 taken hostage, 11 kidnapped and three threatened. Additionally, perpetrators were armed with guns and knives in 45 of the reported incidents.

The Director at the IMB, Michael Howlett, stated that while the decline in reported piracy and armed robbery incidents is encouraging, it is crucial not to be complacent. He urged vessel owners and operators to adhere to IMB guidelines while commending governments and law enforcement for their excellent work, which has made this improvement possible.

Howlett urged vessels to continue following the latest best management practices to ensure the safety of crews, ships, and cargo. He praised local authorities for investigating reported incidents and renewed calls for accurate and timely reporting of maritime incidents.

Howlett further encouraged all shipmasters and owners to report all actual, attempted and suspected piracy and armed robbery incidents to the Piracy Reporting Centre. He emphasised that this is a vital first step in ensuring that authorities allocate adequate resources to combat maritime piracy.