Concerns About the Resurgence of Kidnap-for-Ransom in GoG
In its mid-year report, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) calls for action in the face of the worrying return of kidnap-for-ransom piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
After a historic lull in 2022, and a year after the removal of Nigeria from the list of piracy hotspots, serious incidents have increased. Acts of piracy, ship seizures, Kidnap-for-Ransom, cargo thefts are often committed by highly organised groups, .
65 cases of piracy and armed robbery against merchant ships were recorded in the first half of 2023. The number of incidents over the same period in 2022 was 58.
The incidents were concentrated in the Gulf of Guinea and increased in number in the 2nd quarter. 36 sailors were taken hostage, 14 kidnapped, 2 injured and 1 attacked. The perpetrators of these acts mainly targeted ships at anchor. One of the latest examples is the abduction of three crew members from the Grebe Bulker on 2 May. The three sailors from the Grebe Bulker were released on 21 May.
The report also expresses concern at the 25% increase in maritime crime in the Singapore Strait. The IMB calls on neighbouring states to allocate the necessary resources to combat maritime piracy.
