Pirates Attack 6 Ships in Nigeria

On Sunday we highlighted some disturbing developments coming out of Nigeria. The news today is another warning things are deteriorating quickly.

Unknown gunmen attacked six oil industry ships on the channel leading to Nigeria's largest oil and gas export complex on Bonny Island on Wednesday, oil company security sources said.

Two people were injured, one of them seriously, but none of the vessels was boarded, the sources said. Bonny Island is the export point for about 400,000 barrels per day of crude oil and 18 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas.

"Six vessels were attacked within the space of about 20 minutes," one of the sources said, asking not to be named.

There are a number of different aspects to the situation in Nigeria, it is difficult to tell if MEND is involved in this incident, or if this is a criminal element. Reading the article further reveals the Nigerians believe the attackers were most likely pirates, but the article makes the point they actually have no idea who is responsible.

In their annual piracy report, IMB notes an increase in piracy in Nigeria for 2007. The US Navy supposedly has an evolving, slowly emerging strategy for that region with its African Partnership Initiative program, but we are yet to see evidence that program does more than provide local security forces training. In the case of Nigeria, the local security forces are either overwhelmed or overtly corrupt, and the military is engaged against the MEND insurgency, so while the training helps, it won't be enough.

AFRICOM is meeting a great deal of skepticism in Nigeria, if not outright rejection. Given the American track record in that region, that is hardly surprising. With the security problems deteriorating though, it is possible the US will get an opening to contribute to the security situation, and if that call comes I hope both our political leaders and the DoD is ready to respond effectively. They will probably get a shot to make a first impression, although probably at a small, limited level. It will be important to make the right impression when the opening comes.

As for the status of the API, the USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) arrived in Libreville, Gabon this week. It is still unclear how effective the API is. That might be good news though, there is some speculation that the API can be evaluated as more successful the less we hear about it in the press. Considering how very little we have heard about the pilot Global Fleet Station in the Caribbean Sea in its last 2+ months of its deployment, despite all the early attention that GFS got, it must of been an extraordinary success. Or not.