Cameroon Boat Captain Released From Pirates

On Saturday off the coast of Nigeria, seven armed assailants had boarded the Cameroonian ship, Monica, carrying 150 people taking the captain of the vessel hostage.  It is now confirmed by the captain, Moukoko Lottin, that he was released by the pirates and returned back to Cameroon upon payment of a ransom.  Lottin along with other crew and passengers are all unharmed.

Reports from a shipping company and witness over the weekend had told AFP that the Monica was attacked around 8:00 am, kidnapping the captain and releasing some others on board unharmed.  The Corner Water Shipping Company who owns the Monica confirmed the incident and that their Calabar office was negotiating to have the captain freed. 

A Navy spokesman from Nigeria commented that the Monica passenger boat was on its way from Cameroon to Oron, Nigeria and that the boat left back to Cameroon after being escorted by Nigerian navy personnel. 

Corner Water Shipping Company confirmed that the captain was released hours later after paying a “monthly security tax” to the assailants at their request.  The company and Lottin have declined to say how much was paid during negotiations.

Piracy is West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea has steadily been escalating over throughout the year, with low-level armed robberies, as well as hijackings, cargo thefts and large-scale robberies.