Gulf of Guinea Focus: Week 2
- Agwe Global
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
All nine seafarers kidnapped from the LPG carrier CGAS Saturn during a pirate attack in the Gulf of Guinea on 3 December have been released and are now safe, the vessel’s owner Christiania Gas has confirmed. In an update issued on 29 December, the Denmark-based company said the crew members have contacted their families and are now being repatriated to their home countries so they can reunite with their loved ones. The company also said the seafarers have undergone full medical checks and are receiving psychological support. The seafarers were abducted after armed attackers boarded the LPG carrier while it was on passage in the Gulf of Guinea. At the time of the attack, the vessel was en-route to Malabo. During the incident, one of the four crew members who remained on board was injured and later received medical treatment. Christiania Gas said the past few weeks had been extremely difficult, especially for the nine seafarers and their families.
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At least 25 people were confirmed dead in a canoe accident in Nigeria, officials said yesterday. The incident occurred late when a canoe carrying 52 passengers capsized while travelling from the town of Adiyani in Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa state to Garbi in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe state. While 13 passengers were rescued, a preliminary report by authorities said 14 others remain missing. Mohammed Goje, executive
secretary of Yobe State Emergency Agency, told Anadolu that the victims had gone for fishing, farming, and other local business activities, when the canoe overturned mid-journey. Search and rescue “The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency can confirm the unfortunate canoe mishap that occurred along the Nguru waterway,” Goje said. “Our search and rescue teams are still working in collaboration with security agencies and local community volunteers to find those missing,” Goje added.
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The Nigerian Navy has over time improved its capacity to build and repair ships through the Naval Dockyard Limited, extending its shipbuilding and ship repair services to other West African countries, a development expected to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea. Ensuring the availability of ships and sea vessels for monitoring and combating maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea cannot be overemphasised, as the region is strategically vital for oil, gas and maritime trade. The dockyard has built a total of three Seaward Defence Boats
(SDBs) for the Nigerian Navy, all of which have been inaugurated and are currently in use. It has also constructed several other vessels, including barges and smaller patrol boats. In recent years, especially in 2025, dockyard extended its services to the Republic of Benin, undertaking the repair and refurbishment of six Beninese Naval Ships (BNS). The first phase of work on three of the ships — BNS Pendjari, BNS Couffo and BNS Matelot Brice Kpomassé (MBK) — has been completed, and the vessels have been handed over to the Beninese authorities. The dockyard has also began the second phase of work on the remaining three ships: BNS Ouémé, BNS Zou, and another vessel, a move expected to significantly boost regional maritime security.
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The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, said that the Nigerian Navy remains committed in the fight against maritime crimes and ensuring safety on waterways. He disclosed this during an inspection of facilities at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital and other projects in Calabar. “Navy is committed to making Nigeria’s waters safe and secure; rest assured that we are going to make our maritime environment very safe and secured,” he said The naval chief said he was satisfied with the facilities and operational gains made by the Navy in recent weeks. “I am happy with what I have seen, and particularly the operational gains that have been made in the last few weeks is encouraging,” he said. He noted that the Navy’s mandate is maritime security, adding that he is assessing its operational capabilities, to identify critical challenges and prioritise areas for security. “I am here in Calabar as part of my operations visit which I embarked on some weeks ago; I have been going around to various naval commands and units and formations. “Basically
I am here to assess the operational capabilities of the Navy with a view to getting to know some of the critical challenges,” he said.
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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has renewed his call on state governments across the federation to urgently ban the use of wooden boats for commercial water transportation and instead invest in safer, modern fibre and aluminium boats. The Minister made the call against the backdrop of recent tragic boat accidents, which claimed several lives and left many families in mourning. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola expressed deep sympathy with the victims
of the mishaps and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. The Minister also charged waterway users to take personal responsibility for their safety by adhering strictly to basic safety measures. He warned against night travel, which often comes with poor visibility and higher risks, and urged passengers to insist on wearing approved life jackets at all times. “Waterway users must refuse to board rickety or overloaded boats,” he cautioned. “No journey is worth risking your life. Avoid night travels, wear life jackets and prioritise safety above all else.” “Our thoughts and prayers are
with the families who lost their loved ones. These recurring tragedies are painful and unacceptable, and they underscore the urgent need to address the root causes of waterway accidents in the country,” he said.
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A violent pirate attack occurred in Gabonese territorial waters during the early hours, January 10, 2026, resulting in the abduction of nine sailors. The vessel, a Gabonese-flagged trawler named IB Fish 7, was operating approximately seven nautical miles southwest of Equata when it was boarded by three armed individuals at around 2:00 a.m. According to an official statement from the Ministry of National Defense, the kidnappers targeted specific crew members before fleeing the scene. The kidnapped group consists of five Chinese
nationals and four Indonesians. Six other crew members of Chinese, Indonesian, and Burkinabe nationalities remained on the vessel following the raid. Upon being alerted to the maritime security breach, the Gabonese Navy and the National Gendarmerie’s maritime units launched an immediate response. Security forces successfully located the IB Fish 7 and provided an armed escort back to the port of Owendo in Libreville. Minister of National
Defense Brigitte Onkanowa confirmed that the government is monitoring the situation at the highest levels. The Libreville Public Prosecutor’s Office has formally opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the boarding and to identify the criminal group responsible for the assault. Local authorities are working alongside international partners to trace the whereabouts of the abducted sailors and ensure their safe return.
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