Two dead after pirate attack on vessel
February 14, 2012
Pirates attacked a cargo vessel off the coast of Nigeria yesterday, killing its captain and chief engineer, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported, warning shipping to stay clear of the area.
The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre said the pirates had chased and fired upon the vessel, which raised the alarm by radio and headed towards Lagos.
The centre said all the members of the crew, except the bridge team, “took shelter in a citadel”, but as the pirates sprayed the ship with bullets, the captain and chief engineer were killed.
The attack, which took place 110 nautical miles off the coast, is one of three to have occurred in the area since last Thursday, the IMB said.
The attackers are believed to be Nigerian pirates.
The Nigerian authorities, which launched an operation to intercept the pirates, said they were still searching the area.
Courtesy of IFW
