IMB have reported that a vessel was attacked by pirates. All crew are reported to be in the citadel. Nigerian Navy authorities have been informed and are responding.

The vessel in question is believed to be the Cypriot cargo flagged ESL AUSTRALIA.

This is the 5^th such incident to occur within 100nm of the southern fringe of the Nigerian EEZ within 2020. Within 2019 there were 4 incidents within 50nm of this incident. Incident analysis shows an increase in reporting in this area across a 3 year period which is contrast with a wider declining trend of overall incidents over the same period.

Source: Dryad Global