“Pirates kidnapped 12 crew members from a Swiss merchant vessel on Saturday in Nigerian waters, the ship’s operator said in a statement,” highlighting the ongoing threat of piracy in the area. While piracy off of the horn of Africa has largely been eradicated through successful policing and responses, piracy and kidnapping for ransom remains a threat off the Nigerian coast. “A number of foreigners have been kidnapped in the last few years in the southern Niger Delta region, source of most of the crude oil which is the mainstay of west Africa’s biggest economy. Nigeria’s navy and maritime police said they were unaware of the kidnapping and would investigate.”
Source: Pirates kidnap 12 crew members from Swiss vessel in Nigerian waters – ship operator | Reuters
