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Nigeria: Gunmen Hijack Oil Vessel
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This Day (Lagos)
15 May 2008
Posted to the web 15 May 2008
Ahamefula Ogbu
Port Harcourt
An unknown group of gunmen on Tuesday night seized a Chevron oil supply vessel, Lourdes Tide, with 11 crew on board.
Among the crew aboard the vessel were Ukrainian and a Portuguese. The rest were said to be Nigerians.
It was initially thought that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) was responsible for the hijack, but the group has issued a statement denying any involvement.
The gunmen took the vessel into the creeks, demanding N30 million as ransom before releasing the vessel.
The vessel left Onne, Rivers State, for Escravos, Delta State, but was said to have been stormed by the armed men who seized it and the entire crew and guided them to an unknown destination.
Security reports on the incident said the vessel left Onne at 0900hrs and headed for Escravos on a morning convoy but it has not been seen since.
Although no information has been received on the location of the vessel, there has already been a demand of a N30 million ransom, supposedly emanating from the pirates.
An official of the oil company said: "A vessel working for Chevron, Lourdes Tide sailing from Onne to Escravos was hijacked by unknown gunmen. The vessel left Onne at 0900 hrs on the morning convoy. We do not know the exact location but we know from our tracking system that it is in the Kakrama area and more specifically in Fouche Island.
"There are 11 crew on board including one Portu-guese and one Ukrainian. We do not know who is responsible but they are demanding N30 million."
They want the money delivered at Efoko in new Calabar River, the report said.
Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force in Rivers State, Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa, confirmed the incident.
It has been reported both to the State Security Services, the Navy and other security agencies, he said.
"The SSS which is part of the JTF are on it. All hands are on deck to ensure they are released very soon and unharmed," he told THISDAY.
However, MEND has dissociated itself from the incident.
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"We are aware of those behind the attack and do not support their motive. However, we will not see ourselves working on the side of the government in aiding the release of the hostages," MEND said in the press statement.
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