Gulf of Guinea Focus: Week 4
- Agwe Global
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 13 Brigade have rescued 18 passengers, including two infants, following a boat hijacking incident along the Nigeria–Cameroon waterways. The incident occurred on January 11, 2026, when suspected sea pirates hijacked a passenger boat operating along the Kombo Fishing Port axis within Cameroonian waters. The attackers, reportedly operating two speedboats and a wooden boat, abducted passengers who were travelling between Cameroon and Nigeria. This was confirmed in a statement signed and relased by the Brigade Assistant Director of Public Relation, Major Yemi Sokoya, and shared on the Army X page. “A distress call reported that suspected sea pirates, operating in two speed boats and a wooden boat, hijacked a passenger boat moving from Cameroon to Nigeria. “The passengers were kidnapped along Kombo Fishing Port within Cameroon waterways,” the statement read. “Responding swiftly, 13 Brigade troops deployed at Ikang pursued the criminals, resulting in an exchange of fire that caused one of the pirates’ speed boats to capsize. The pirates abandoned their victims and fled into the surrounding creeks.
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The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote have commended the Nigerian Navy for its steadfast efforts in enhancing maritime safety and maintaining security along Nigeria’s coastal and offshore corridors. The duo gave their commendations during separate courtesy visits by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral A. A Mustapha in Lagos. Speaking at the Dangote Group’s corporate headquarters, Aliko Dangote described maritime security as essential for industrial development. He noted that for conglomerates like the Dangote Group, which rely heavily on the efficient movement of raw materials and finished products through seaports and inland waterways, the Navy’s presence is vital to business continuity. Dangote expressed the Group’s readiness to support mutually beneficial initiatives that
promote economic growth, maritime safety, and national development. He also thanked the Western Naval Command for its collaborative spirit. Earlier, Rear Admiral Mustapha said the visit is part of the Nigerian Navy’s ongoing efforts to build strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in the nation’s maritime sector and to enhance cooperation in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime environment. He emphasized that the Nigerian Navy acknowledges
the vital role of private sector players in maritime security, industrial growth, and national economic development.
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Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), arrested two suspected members of a band of sea pirates in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, as they were fine-tuning plans to hijack a crude oil-laden vessel in the Gulf of Guinea. The men, identified as Geoffrey Atizara, 38, from Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and Divine Kelechi
Unueze, 42, from Nekede in Owerri, Imo State, were nabbed at a hotel on Tenacious Street in the Edepie area of Yenagoa, according to security sources. According to the sources, preliminary intelligence, corroborated by the suspects' confessional statements, revealed that the men, along with other band members, were plotting to seize a vessel, abduct its crew, and steal its cargo. According to the sources, Unueze was the financier of the operation, while Atizara was tasked with recruiting additional pirates. "The duo have admitted to being part of a high-profile criminal network operating in the South East and South South parts of Nigeria, mainly profiting from sea piracy and kidnapping," the source offered. "Given the sophistication and the resources at the disposal of this pirate band, this arrest has disrupted what could have been a major threat to maritime security in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea region" one of the sources declared.
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The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH says it has recorded significant operational successes in the fight against crude oil theft, piracy and kidnapping across Bayelsa waterways under Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS). The Base Operations Officer, Lt.-Cmdr. E.C. Igwe disclosed this during a media visit to the naval base, led by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja. Igwe said NNS SOROH, operating
under the Central Naval Command and Sector 2 of Operation DELTA SAFE, covers about 107 nautical miles from the Ramos River to the San Bartholomew River, securing critical maritime infrastructure vital to Nigeria’s economy. According to him, the base exercises operational control over Forward Operating Base Koluama and Naval Outpost Kulama, which serve as force multipliers for riverine and coastal operations. “Between January to
date, NNS SOROH has deactivated over 12 boats, dismantled more than 15 illegal refining sites, and handled about 800,000 litres of suspected crude oil, over two million litres of adulterated crude, and 30,000 litres of products suspected to be AGO, all in line with extant regulations,” he said. Igwe noted that sustained naval pressure had forced oil theft syndicates to change tactics by moving smaller quantities with smaller boats, but added that the Navy had remained resolute.
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The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy (FMM&BE), Hajiya Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, has engaged the management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on strengthening safety awareness and improving service delivery across Nigeria’s inland waterways. The meeting, held in Abuja, focused on
familiarising the Permanent Secretary with NIWA’s operations and assessing how the Authority’s programmes align with the Ministry’s mandate under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Addressing the session, the Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Alhaji Yusuf Umar Girei, alongside members of the management team, briefed Mahmood on the Authority’s core mandate, vision and mission, as well as key achievements
and operational challenges. He said NIWA has continued to roll out initiatives with visible impact in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda. Girei noted that the Authority is sustaining collaboration with the private sector to enhance efficiency and expand service delivery. According to him, such partnerships remain vital to unlocking the economic potential of inland waterways while improving navigation, infrastructure and safety standards nationwide.
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The Chairman of Chinese Shipbuilding Offshore International Limited (CSOIL), Mr Liu Song, has paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abass. During the visit, Mr Liu Song expressed appreciation for the enduring collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and his company, highlighting the successes recorded in shipbuilding and vessel acquisition. He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to deepening the partnership and expressed optimism that greater milestones would be achieved in support of the Nigerian Navy’s fleet development aspirations. In his response, the CNS commended Chinese Shipbuilding Offshore International Limited for its support to the Nigerian Navy, particularly in the acquisition of Nigerian Navy Ships UNITY and CENTENARY. He welcomed
the delegation to Nigeria and reiterated the Navy’s resolve to strengthen cooperation with the company, in line with his vision of building a modern, agile, and professional naval force dedicated to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests and advancing national security objectives.
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