Securing the Waters: Nigerian Navy Kills 12 Pirates off the Gulf of Guinea

The Gulf of Guinea is the current home of rising pirates' activities. It has superseded Somalia and the Indian Ocean in this menace. Leaders of West and Central Africa are making frantic efforts at securing their coasts and making sure that the rising spates and cases of piracy are stemmed. Alassane Ouatarra, The Ivory Coast President once called for the presence of a multi-national naval force to combat the pirates.

The Nigerian navy said it killed 12 pirates in a gun battle as they tried to flee from a fuel tanker they had hijacked off the coast of the Gulf of Guinea last week. Pirates took control of the St. Kitts and Nevis-flagged MT Notre on August 15, but an emergency signal was sent to the navy and several gunships were deployed to recover the vessel, Navy Flag Officer Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Hassan told reporters.

The pirates were killed why trying to escape on a speed boat during negotiation on the ship's release after Navy gunships chased and caught up with the vessel and forced it into Nigerian waters. In the pursuit, the navy boats were fired upon by the hijackers. "The gun battle lasted for about 30 minutes after which they were overpowered. On taking over the speed boat, four of the militants were alive and unhurt while the rest of the pirates were killed in the crossfire," Sidi-Ali Hussan said.

Sidi-Ali Hussan revealed the crew were all rescued unharmed from the MT Notre, which was carrying 17,000 metric tons of gasoline.