Nigeria becomes world piracy hotspot

LAGOS – Nigeria has become the world piracy ‘hotspot’, with its prized oil industry a particular target, and the raiders have exposed flaws in the country’s security.

Despite the massive revenues earned from oil, officials concede Nigeria is ill equipped to combat pirates who ply the seas with speed boats, modern machine guns and radios and target tankers, trawlers, barges and oil industry backup vessels.

According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), Nigeria accounted for 10 of the 49 attacks registered worldwide in the first quarter of 2008, more than 20 percent. It called Nigeria “the number one hotspot” for piracy.

It has taken over from Indonesia for the first time in 16 years of reporting.

The most pirate-infested zones are around the economic capital, Lagos, and the oil-rich waters of the southern Niger Delta.

AFP