An undetermined number of pirates yesterday boarded the chemical tanker Hana I in Malabo, near Equatorial Guinea’s capital and port city.
On January 1, an assault occurred on the Tuvalu-registered tanker that was travelling from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to Douala, Cameroon. According to first accounts, the pirates abducted two members of the crew.
Pirate activity in the Gulf of Guinea has been a persistent and concerning issue. The region, particularly off the coasts of Nigeria, Benin, and parts of neighbouring countries, has experienced a high number of pirate attacks on shipping vessels. These attacks often involve the boarding, hijacking, and kidnapping of crew members for ransom.