The Nigerian Navy has foiled an attempt by suspected pirates to hijack and abduct 25 foreign nationals aboard a Maersk merchant ship carrying general cargo to Nigeria.

Briefing journalists yesterday at Onne Sea Port, Rivers State, Olusegun Soyemi, Executive Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, said the vessel was berthed safely with the rescued crew unharmed, reported the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Soyemi said the crew, including the ship’s captain, was of mixed nationalities consisting of eight Filipinos, eight South Africans, five Indians, two Britons and two from Thailand.

According to him, Safmarine Kuramo, a Maersk merchant ship registered in Singapore, was transporting general cargo from Port-Noire, Congo, to Onne Sea Port in Rivers.
“On January 5 at about 08:00 hours, Safmarine Kuramo was attacked by pirates about 60 nautical miles off the coast of Bonny Island (in Rivers) Fairway Bouy.
“We got a mayday distress call that the ship had been boarded by an unconfirmed number of pirates after entering the nation’s territorial waters.

“We immediately dispatched a warship (NNS Centenary) and attack gunboats led by Navy Capt. Chiedozie Okehie of the Eastern Naval Command to rescue the situation.
“The pirates on sighting advancing naval troops fled the scene for fear of being arrested by our operatives.
“The operation was largely successful as all 25 foreign crew members, including the captain are safe and unhurt, while cargo onboard the ship is intact,” he said.
Soyemi, a navy captain, said the pirates fired several gunshots at the ship’s control room in a bid to scare and subdue any resistance from the captain and crew.

Also, the Commanding Officer of NNS Centenary, Chiedozie Okehie, who led the operation, said the crew locked and hid themselves in the ship’s citadel (engine room).
He said the rescue was successful partly due to the courage and bravery exhibited by the ship’s captain – a woman.
According to him, in spite of the odds, she covertly gave the Nigerian Navy briefs while pirates onboard the ship made several attempts to break into the citadel.
“Immediately we got to the ship, we carried out thorough searches of the compartments and cabins to check if any pirate had remained onboard.
“Investigations are ongoing to ascertain what happened and who carried out the attack,” he said.
Okehie said the navy under the command of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas remained fully committed to the safety of the nation’s waterways and maritime environment.

The captain of Safmarine Kuramo, Ms. Zetta Gous-Conradie, a South African, described the experience as horrific, but thanked the Nigerian Navy for its prompt response to her distress call.
“We were very grateful when the navy came onboard because at some point we thought the pirates would take us hostage.
“The heat was stifling because the temperature was very hot in the citadel, and at some point my crew members and I thought we would suffocate and die,” she said.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigerian-navy-foils-hijack-of-maersk-ship-rescues-25-foreigners/231385/

Good to know the Nigeria military are showing more concern towards foreign nationals and neglecting suffering citizens on their home turf.

Kudos to the navy for their prompt response.

m

Good.

Jonathanohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Amazing action by authorities led by Navy Capt. Chiedozie Okehie ...I am sure he understands the terrain well
Almost 111.12KM
The ship’s captain – a woman.lalasticlala ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

The person above me should be banned for behaving like an Ugandapitecus ..

Haba

Commando style...


Good news... We need this...


Wishing Nigerians a Happy Week!

UrennaNkoli:
Good to know the Nigeria military are showing more concern towards foreign nationals and neglecting suffering citizens on their home turf.

Hillarious

Keneking:
Jonathanohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Amazing action by Navy

i wonder when you will stop calling Jonathan.shebi una don chase am away. u never tire still !!
Is it not Buhari you should be calling?

K

y'all should give them a resounding hand of applause they finally achieve something meaningful after all this year..atleast they are not going after tompolo and the militant

Good.

Read my signature.

Nice one

Pirates of Bonny Island.

Nollywood, take note for your next movie.

Na the water wey Navy dey work on make their head cool thats why they fit respond to distress call....if na police or soldiers wey hot sun don hammer if i hear say they respond

Those pirates fled nah those aren't pirates, they are sea robbers

Reminds me of the movie "Captain Philips".

Nice one

Nice 1,



Keep it up Boys.





ThefakeStan

The navy re not telling us something.
Sure the merchant ship was attacked by hungry fishermen whose intention were to rob which they left afterwards...

until Nigerian Navy start arresting those stealing our oil then they should come and tell me about their new commando style...

So sad... Some elements should not turn nigeria to somalia oh.... All dis fastmoney neva pays.... Look for a job with integrity

UrennaNkoli:
Good to know the Nigeria military are showing more concern towards foreign nationals and neglecting suffering citizens on their home turf.

really funny. Fear of international shame but the same within is never addressed

The job is sweet when you are commended for it. it's no longer business as usual.

AyamConfidence:
.

.pirates of the Carribean part 2....roll camera...ACTION...hehehe...if Navy jam hungry pirates, they go forget their canoe use their legs run ontop water...na amateurs they meet thats why...but seriously if na Naija people dey that ship Madt Navy fit no respond but ontop oyibo matter they dey form James Bond

soobaba:
Reminds me of the movie "Captain Philips".

Tell me about the movie.

Keneking:
Jonathanohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Amazing action by authorities led by Navy Capt. Chiedozie Okehie ...I am sure he understands the terrain well
Almost 111.12KM
The ship’s captain – a woman.lalasticlala ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Why are you calling Jonathan's name? in vain

UrennaNkoli:

“We immediately dispatched a warship (NNS Centenary) and attack gunboats led by Navy Capt. Chiedozie Okehie of the Eastern Naval Command to rescue the situation.
“The pirates on sighting advancing naval troops fled the scene for fear of being arrested by our operatives./

I just remember the Nigerian Police and the way they beat their chest and be OnTop of The situation

UrennaNkoli:
Good to know the Nigeria military are showing more concern towards foreign nationals and neglecting suffering citizens on their home turf.

Rubbish comment, do u want dem to neglect d foreign nationals?

Good

xest:
Rubbish comment, do u want dem to neglect d foreign nationals?

ok

Nice try