Nigeria extends anti-piracy operation by 3 months

The Nigerian government Friday said an anti piracy operations has been extended by three months to tackle incessant attacks on merchant ships by criminals.

Ibok-Ete Ibas, the country's Chief of Naval Staff, made the remarks in the southern city of Onne in Rivers State, adding that the navy has reduced incessant attacks on merchant ships by pirates on the nation's territorial waters.

Ibas said deployment of several warships was responsible for the decline.

"In order to sustain the gains of the earlier operation for optimum performance and benefits, it has become imperative to extend it by another three months," he added.

"It is instructive to note that attacks on shipping have substantially declined since the commencement of this operation, relative to what obtained between January and April 2016," he said.

"This is because only four attacks on shipping have been reported during the period as compared to 45 incidences of piracy reported from Jan. 16 to April 16," the navy chief told reporters.

According to him, the navy operation was aimed to stem the rising wave of attacks on shipping and other criminality within Nigeria's maritime domain, particularly in the offshore areas.

Ibas said the operation would enable merchant ships move their cargoes freely, while sustaining protection of oil and gas installations for improved revenue for the country. Endit