Group faults Navy, says 79 piracy attacks occurred in 2018

Even though the Nigerian Navy said last week that 34 piracy and 20 sea robbery attacks were recorded in the nation’s maritime domain in 2018, the Merchant Navy has faulted this figure, saying that the total number of attacks recorded in Nigeria’s maritime domain last year was 79.

The Merchant Navy Directorate also said that so far between January and February 2019, 15 fresh attacks have been recorded.

Speaking with newsmen recently in Lagos, Secretary of the Merchant Navy Directorate, Capt Alfred Oniye said that seafarers onboard ships were being threatened not to report attacks on ships.

Oniye, a United States Navy trained seal and maritime expert alleged that the responsible agencies are covering up most of the figures.

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According to Oniye, “Last year, the attacks recorded in the maritime industry were 79, those are the ones we know and have facts and records on. These are the ones that were reported, what about the ones that were not reported?

“Most of the seafarers are being threatened not to report attacks, so definitely we had more than 79 attacks in 2018. If anybody tells you that the attacks we had last year was 34, they are lying, they have no prove and they are merely doing this to cover their weaknesses.

“On territorial waters, the Nigerian navy only covers 5%. For contiguous ones, they only cover 1%; and for our inland waterways, they only cover 36 creeks out of 6,000.

“In this year alone, we have recorded 15 attacks. We have the fact with evidences. These are the ones reported. We could do this because we have certified intelligence personnel.”

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Navy Chief of Training and Operations (CTOPS) Rear Admiral Mackson Kadiri had told newsmen that 34 piracy and 20 sea robbery attacks were recorded in the nation’s maritime domain last year, while 46 vessels, barges and 31 big wooden boats were impounded within the period under review.