EMEA News
Another Pirate Attack Reported in West Africa
A new pirate attack has been reported in West Africa, while a previous report of piracy is in dispute.
A tug boat owned by the Nigerian Agip Co. (NOAC) was attacked Saturday evening on the Nembe Waterways in Nigeria's Bayelsa State, and a captain and engineer were abducted, news site AllAfrica reports.
Seven armed pirates carried out the attack from a speed boat, and the location of the abductees is not known.
The managers of an oil tanker reported missing earlier this month are also reporting that they have re-established contact with the vessel and that crew members confirm it was attacked by pirates, Reuters reports.
However, an Angolan official argues that the attack was faked.
Dynacom Tankers Management reports that a large amount of cargo was stolen from the MV Kerala and one crew member was wounded in the attack, but Angola Navy spokesman Augusto Lourenco suggested it was a deception.
"It was all faked, there have been no acts of piracy in Angolan waters," he said.
"What happened on Jan. 18, when we lost contact with the ship, was that the crew disabled the communications on purpose."
If the attack on the Kerala was real, experts said it would represent an expansion of the territory of criminal groups based in Nigeria.
