A Nigerian Navy seaman mans a 20mm weapon onboard a stealth Sea Eagle Mk.II Offshore Patrol Craft
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
20 Dec, 2012
ABUJA
The Nigerian Navy has sent a rescue ship to trace five Indians who were abducted by pirates from a German oil tanker off the coast of the country’s notorious Niger Delta region.
“The Western Naval Command (WNC)
under the leadership of the Flag Officer
Commanding (FOC), Rear Admiral Ameen
Ikioda was directed to send a rescue ship to the troubled vessel and ascertain if the ship was actually under arrest,” Navy spokesman Commodore Kabiru Aliyu told . He said the Navy will investigate the ship where it is at anchorage and if it is confirmed that the oil vessel was attacked, they will go after the pirates and rescue the kidnapped crew members.
Heavily armed pirates attacked and
looted an oil vessel off the coast of Niger
delta region on Monday, kidnapping five
Indian sailors on board, the ship’s
operators, Medallion Marine said
yesterday. “The vessel (SP Brussels) was boarded by heavily armed pirates whist
approximately 40 miles off the Niger
Delta. The pirates ransacked the vessel
for personal belongings and took five
crew members with them on their departure.” the operators said in an
initial statement and later clarified that
the five crew members were Indians. Medallion Marine said they are working
hand-in-hand with authorities here to get the abducted men released.
Piracy and oil theft is a regular phenomenon in Nigeria especially in the
delta region where oil is produced.Similar attacks are also witnessed off the southern commercial city of Lagos. On September 4, pirates hijacked a ship,
MT Abu Dhabi Star owned by a Singaporean firm off the shores of
Nigeria with its 23 Indian sailors on
board. They were later released.
Na ship una wan send?
If this is the NNs reaction time it is woeful. By now they should have sent a plane or helicopters to buzz the ship and see what’s what if its clear land a team to clear it and get info for the follow up
The 5 sailors are already in the creeks, aerial patrols and small boats criss crossing the creeks are needed not a big ship to sail around pointlessley.
Hopefully all our Naval helicopters have not been tasked off to take the state First Ladies Christmas shopping
Ah taya, my broda.
The bigmen who can make things happen sometimes appear fixated with seeing security challenges disappear instead of working to make us attain the desired outcomes.
What is the plan for INDEPENDENT response capabilities at the FOBs? To my mind, we should be working towards a situation which each of the following six new FOBs namely, Ibaka, Formoso, Escravos, Bonny, Igbokoda, Badagry and the naval base at Ibaka are equipped with the following assets for operations in the Niger Delta and within a 30-mile radius of our shores
- a Shaldag Mk.II FPC.
- two Manta Mk.II Littoral Interceptors
- a 17 metre Stingray landing craft
- three K-38 Combat Catamarans
- a TWIN-ENGINED AS 555 Fennec helo
The main naval bases at Warri, Calabar, PHC and Lagos would then be tasked with launching oceangoing assets in precincts beyond 50 miles from our shores.
Again, one wonders why the delay in the acquisition of the LPDs – already detailed and approved for the Navy’s 10 year Strategic Acquisition Plan, even with the existence of the hottest deal in the world for an LPD..the US$50m Makassar-class LPDs manufactured by Daewoo Shipbuilding.
That would be our best bet for having a floating military base IN SITU where these attacks occur. Such LPDs would have carry a Shaldag FPC and a Manta Interceptor in its ‘belly’, RHIBs dangling down the side, helicopters on the deck and as many as 120 troops(even as each LPD can carry over 250 men) drawn from the ranks of the military as follows – 60 regular naval seamen, 25 Army Amphibious Forces, 10 Army Special Forces, 10 Air Force Special Forces and 15 Navy SBS commandos.
This would greatly boost special operations joint ops, interoperability and also ensure that, with one LPD covering the Calabar to Warri while the other takes care of Lagos to Escravos, we might be able to close down pirates within six hours of every strike…with enough men and materiel on board to execute two different interdictions, 150 miles apart, simultaneously.
On point
oga BEEGEAGLE
As you say all the time Na siddon look we dey.
I want to be constructively critical of this latest abominable kidnapping but out of respect I will hold my fire.
I think it is time for our leaders to explain to the people why they have failed the Nigerian people. With all the fine intellectuals within Nigeria and the ones abroad.Terrorism in the north, kidnapping and illegal crude oil bunkering in the south. In the past, I use to belief that Nigeria was in this situation because its leader were illiterates. But no, the ones we have today are educated and most of them are Master’s degree and Phd holders. Also, talking about leadership, most of these military brass are also Phd holders but can’t think properly about Strategic Planning and acquisitions. They spend all these billions of dollars on their salaries and allowances but can’t fund the police and military that protects the economy.It is sad that Nigeria, a regional power do not have a long range tactical figher jet or a submarine. The sad part is even the few in service is not properly maintained.
Hey Kwame, nice to see you are posting at last after all the backstage communication.
Pipul..na Rivers man o..before una go begin target am
.
@ Gen beege, I “sheath” my sword. Thanks for the clearance. @ Kwame welcome.