Chief Engineer and robbed
the crew. The next day, the Tug Lamnalco Hawk was attacked and boarded
by 3 pirates in Pennington Terminal area of the same Bayelsa State.
2014 is continuing a harrowing trend that has won Nigeria a top
position in the global high sea piracy charts. As Nigeria achieves
greater ‘successes’ in events of boat capture and robbery, global levels
have recorded appreciated drops. The total events of piracy according
to the International Maritime Bureau were 264 in 2014 compared to 297 in
2012 and 439 in 2011. But events off West Africa’s coast are
increasing.
Of the 51 events in the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria had 31 last year,
overtaking Somalia on the east of the continent, which had only 15
episodes of Piracy that same year. Reports have it that Nigerian pirates
are even involved in cases far out from its bay, across Togo, Gabon and
all the way up to Ivory Coast, making the registered total Nigerian
events lower than actual.
Though Indonesia had the greatest total number of events, these were
low level opportunistic thefts. Africa’s shores recorded the most
dangerous high level incidents of piracy globally, with Nigeria topping
the list.
Nigeria’s Joint Task Force, JTF is reported to have increased efforts
to stem the increases in these terror events off Nigeria’s shores;
however a lack of proper redress for criminals and a culture of impunity
for successful thieves, makes the impact of its effort to combat this
new vocation of the nation’s Southern states questionable.
An extensive report on oil theft in the Niger Delta in October last
year by the Stakeholder Democracy Network, SDN, indicted the very JTF
and maritime police in aiding and abetting these criminal activities; actually levying taxes and receiving payments to protect and oversee the activities of the hoodlums.
An amnesty program which invested billions of naira in countries
overseas in rehabilitating and training Niger Delta MEND militants has
not recorded appreciable success because after the training received,
many youth cannot secure meaningful employment as the environment simply
does not have options and investing in job creation is not a priority
of this government. A ‘rehabilitated’ ex-militant terrorist told his
friend to come join him in the kidnapping business, convincing him that
it was seriously lucrative.
Critics of the amnesty project have stated that as the project which
was initiated by late president Umaru Yar’Adua progressed, more money
should have been invested locally in constructing the training schools
and accommodation facilities, so as to keep the money within the economy
and build long lasting infrastructure and opportunity for employment.
Rehabilitated terrorists are now actively engaged in either high sea piracy, oil bunkering
or kidnapping of affluent locals and visitors. Even the nation’s
President’s adopted father was recently kidnapped in their village by
these confident terrorists, and a ransom of N500 million was allegedly
demanded… which may likely be paid, as is typical, thus cementing this
new found vocation.
A problem Nigeria is credited with that discourages global business
and investment, especially in its fourth republic and under the current
administration is tolerance of crime of the wealthy. Once a kidnapper
or pirate acquires an appreciable wealth status, he gains complete
impunity and he and his gang are freed by the government regardless of
their crimes. In contrast, petty thieves remain imprisoned, sometimes
for years without trial.
It has been noted that in the case of northeastern terrorism, terror
suspects who have been found guilty of mass murders are sentenced to
life imprisonment, whereas armed robbers are given the death sentence.
This sympathy for terrorists and their affluent sponsors by the
government is a challenge to serious efforts at combating high caliber
crime.
High profile pirates, MEND or Boko Haram terrorists are only caught
and incarcerated abroad, in South Africa, Togo, and Cameroon. And even
in these cases the Nigerian government battles to secure their release
or transfer to Nigerian custody, only to pardon and free them as soon as
they get home.
As the Jonathan administration grapples with these serious security
crises in the north, south, middle belt and off its coast, the notably
weak government is getting increasingly overwhelmed and without
adjusting its posture to one of strength and forging and supporting
alliances with communities to participate in security of the nation,
things are projected to get worse. The first recorded hijacking of an
oil vessel was in December 2010 and it involved the MT Velle di Cordoba,
since then pirates have hijacked oil tankers serially, making anywhere
between $5-10 million a month from hijacked tankers. The increasing
dangers of coastal villains are also taking a toll on the land and sea
and not only vessels and their crew. Oil spillage is having an
irreversible deadly impact on Nigeria’s coasts. Shell claims that 80% of
Nigeria’s oil spills are due to the activities of thieves and
saboteurs.
The Civilian JTF was a local effort in Nigeria’s northeast which
arose out of necessity and has done much toward quelling Boko Haram
crises, most especially in the state capital city; however the
government has not shown much commitment and done much toward
patronizing and assisting these critically needed civilian efforts.
Surprisingly, the administration was eager to give a lucrative amnesty
to Boko Haram terrorists, going as far as negotiating with some in
jails, but has not yet decided to similarly award and assist the brave
civilian youth who combat them. If Civilian JTF type efforts are
duplicated in other prone areas and there is a commitment by the
government to protect and honestly sponsor and support these efforts, it
may help in decreasing the rate of high caliber terror Nigeria is
gaining a global reputation for, while reducing the burden on the
nation’s security services. This however is sadly not anticipated as
this will cost money and the government officials are noted to love
keeping the entire nation’s money for themselves.
As the center gets increasingly overwhelmed and fails to hold, many
clamor for greater regional autonomy, including state police to be
responsible for the security in their regions. This may also be worth
seriously considering and will stave off blaming and relying on Abuja
for all problems of insecurity.
Dr. Peregrino Brimah
http://ENDS.ng [Every Nigerian Do Something]
Email: drbrimah@ends.ng Twitter: @EveryNigerian
Resources:
On January 29th, 2014, PSV Cee Jay liner was attacked by pirates and
boarded off the coast of Bayelsa State. The Pirates kidnapped the Master
and
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