By Brandon Cottrell
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America
Two U.S. citizens were abducted when pirates attacked an oil industry vessel early Thursday. According to the Nigerian Navy, which confirmed the piracy attack, the captain and chief engineer of the vessel were the ones abducted. The number of pirates involved in the attack is unknown. The FBI has begun its investigation and the attack is being treated as a kidnapping-for-ransom and not an act of terrorism.
Jack Cloonan, a specialist in international piracy, kidnapping, and extortion, has said that “If you take the Americans, you get a good price, but at the same time you bring a lot of heat on you too.” He looks forward to seeing the initial demands because he said the initial demand provides valuable information in regards to determining who exactly they are dealing with. He also expects the hostages to be safely released.
The Nigerian Navy has since “directed its operational command to search for and rescue the vessel and the crew members” and stated that, “right now, the search is going on, and we are tracking down the culprits.” The Navy also added that they were not sure how the piracy attack was carried out.
An official that works for the AKE Group, a private security firm, also stated that, “All we know is this attack happened, and these were the people who were kidnapped.”
White House spokesman, Jay Carney, said the administration was “seeking additional information so that we can contribute to the safe resolution of the situation.” He further expressed their concern about “the disturbing increase in the incidents of maritime crime, including incidents of piracy off the coast of West Africa, specifically in the Gulf of Guinea.”
This year, oil-searching vessels in the Gulf of Guinea have been targeted by pirates who abduct crewmembers of ransom. According to Maritime Industry officials, most abductions are not reported and the ransoms are settled and paid quickly.
While the United Nations has reported that Somali piracy is at a seven-year low, there have been significant increases in piracy off the coast of West Africa. For example, in 2012 there were more piracy attacks off the coast of West Africa than off the coast of Somalia.
The United Nations has described this difference by the “increased international policing, tougher prosecutions of pirate gangs, and greater use of private security on vessels” in Somalia. In West Africa, however, armed private security guards are not allowed on vessels.
There have been a total of 200 incidents of piracy this year across the world, with 11 hijackings. Most incidents involved stealing commodities and seeking ransom for hostages. Since 2010, it is estimated that $100 million of oil products have been stolen.
American Capitan Richard Phillips, who was held hostage several years ago, may have described the threat of piracy best when offered the following statement, “If you don’t want to deal with piracy you [maritime workers] need to get another job.”
For more information, please see:
ABC News – Pirates Singled Out Americans in Ship Attack Off Nigeria, Official Says – 24 October 2013
BBC – Nigeria Pirate Attack: US Sailors Seized – 24 October 2013
New York Times – Pirates Abduct Two Americans on Oil Ship Off Nigerian Coast – 24 October 2013
Reuters – Pirates Kidnap Two U.S. Sailors Off Nigerian Coast – 24 October 2013
