This marad advisory on maritime crime in niger delta area of nigerian territorial waters originated from the…

Original warning text

1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY ON MARITIME CRIME IN NIGER DELTA AREA OF
   NIGERIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS ORIGINATED FROM THE NATIONAL
   MARITIME INTELLIGENCE CENTER, OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
2. NINETEEN ACTS OF AGGRESSION AGAINST VESSELS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN
   THE NIGER DELTA REGION SINCE SEPTEMBER 2007.  SIXTEEN INCIDENTS
   OCCURRED IN RIVERS STATE IN THE VICINITY OF BONNY RIVER BETWEEN
   PORT HARCOURT AND BONNY.  THREE OCCURRED IN THE VICINITY OF
   ESCRAVOS IN DELTA STATE.
3. A LEADING NIGER DELTA MILITANT GROUP SAID ON 10 JAN 08 THAT IT
   SPONSORED "FREELANCE FREEDOM FIGHTERS" WHO REPORTEDLY SHOT AT
   SIX OIL INDUSTRY SHIPS ON 09 JAN 08, AND THREATENED A BIGGER ATTACK.
   IN AN EMAIL TO THE MEDIA LOOSELY IDENTIFIED GROUP REFERRED TO AS
   THE MOVEMENT FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF THE NIGER DELTA (MEND) SAID
   IT SPONSORED GUNMEN WHO SHOT AT SIX OIL INDUSTRY VESSELS IN THE
   BONNY RIVER CHANNEL, IN WHICH TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED. "MEND WILL
   BE SUPPORTING THESE SMALL INDEPENDENT GROUPS TO HARASS AND
   SABOTAGE THE OIL INDUSTRY AT WILL," THE GROUP SAID.  MEND IS AN
   UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR SEVERAL HEAVILY-ARMED MILITIAS IN THE
   NIGER DELTA, AN IMPOVERISHED REGION OF MANGROVE-LINED CREEKS AND
   SWAMP WHICH IS HOME TO MOST  OF NIGERIA S OIL RESERVE.
4. ADDITIONALLY, IN 2007, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF EXCESSIVE FINES
   LEVIED BY NIGERIAN DRUG ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON CREWMEMBERS FOR
   VESSELS CALLING ON NIGERIAN PORTS.  THE PORT OF LAGOS HAD 24
   INCIDENTS OF CONCERN REPORTED BY MARINERS IN 2007.
5. EXTREME CAUTION AND VIGILANCE SHOULD BE EXERCISE IN NIGER DELTA
   AREA OF NIGERIAN WATERS.
6. US-FLAG VESSEL OPERATORS AND OWNERS SHOULD REFER TO THE SECURITY
   REQUIREMENTS DETAILED IN THE MOST RECENT MARSEC DIRECTIVE 104-6,
   GUIDELINES FOR U.S. VESSELS OPERATING IN HIGH RISK WATERS, DATED
   DECEMBER 29, 2005 WHEN OPERATING IN NIGERIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS.
   A COPY OF THE CURRENT MARSEC DIRECTIVES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM
   YOUR LOCAL USCG CAPTAIN OF THE PORT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
   REGARDING MARSEC DIRECTIVE 104-6, CONTACT LCDR MALCOLM MCLELLAN,
   VESSEL ACTIVITIES (CG-5432), VESSEL SECURITY PROGRAM MANAGER, PHONE:
   202-372-1223 EMAIL: [email protected].
7. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY, CONTACT THE
   MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SECURITY, CODE MAR-420, 2W23-312,
   1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, SE, WASHINGTON, DC  20590; TELEPHONE 202-366-1883,
   OR BY E-MAIL TO  [email protected].
8. SUSPECTED ACTIVITY OR ACTUAL PIRACY/ TERRORIST INCIDENT REPORTING
   GUIDANCE IS PROVIDED IN MARAD ADVISORY 05-01.