Piracy in Nigeria

Depending on which activities are considered "piracy," the frequency of piracy in Nigerian waters varies. Attacks on merchant vessels loaded with cargo are relatively insignificant. Attacks are mainly directed at smaller ships shuttling employees and materials belonging to the oil companies with any involvement in oil exploration in Nigeria. From January 1, 2007 to October 15, 2007, twenty-six pirate attacks were recorded.cite news |first= Tom |last=Maliti|title=Piracy Off Somalia's Coast Increases |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j8fTJYY72y2dgcyR2QGlMueG7tQwD8SAH3500 |work= |publisher=Associated Press, via AP.Google.com |id= |pages= |page= |date=2007-10-16 |accessdate=2007-10-17 ] Piracy is especially common in the Niger Delta region in the southeast of the country, the center of oil exploration. Kidnapping and minor attacks in the region have been on the rise as a result of increasing unrest between residents, the government and the oil exploring companies. Other factors include scarce law enforcement and numerous waterways.cite journal |last=Ikelegbe |first=Augustine |year=2005 |title=The Economy of Conflict in the Oil Rich Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
journal=Nordic Journal of African Studies |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=208–234 |url= http://www.sweetcrudemovie.com/NJAS2005.pdf |accessdate= 2007-10-17 |format=dead link|date=June 2008 – ^{[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=author%3A+intitle%3AThe+Economy+of+Conflict+in+the+Oil+Rich+Niger+Delta+Region+of+Nigeria&as_publication=Nordic+Journal+of+African+Studies&as_ylo=2005&as_yhi=2005&btnG=Search Scholar search]} ]

Locations of attacks

Among the locations in Nigeria that have been subject to attacks by pirates are:
*Lagos, Lagos Statecite web |url= http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php|title= Weekly Piracy Report 9-15 October 2007|accessdate=2007-10-17 |work=Summary of Piracy Reporting Centre report |publisher=International Maritime Bureau]
*Bonny Island, Rivers State

Attacks per year

*2003 - 39cite news |title=Sea piracy hits record high |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/01/27/pirates/index.html |work=CNN.com |publisher=Time Warner |date=2004-01-28 |accessdate=2007-10-17 ]
*First half of 2004
*2007 - 56 - 13cite news |title=Piracy report says Nigerian waters the most deadly |url= http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=50843|work=IRIN |publisher=Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |date= 2004-04-24|accessdate=2007-10-17 ]

References