The Nigerian Navy has successfully intervened to prevent a pirate attack on a Maltese-flagged chemical tanker, MT Endo Ponente, near the coast of Lome, Togo.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) confirmed the incident in a statement released Friday, noting that the alert was received at approximately 8:53 PM on Thursday, August 28. The notification came from the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade (MDAT) Gulf of Guinea Watchkeepers, who reported an attempted boarding by suspected pirates at coordinates 05°10'N, 001°23'E—close to Lome Port.
Subsequent tracking indicated that the tanker had moved to a new position at 04°19'16"N, 01°35'59"E, placing it within Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
In a swift response, the Nigerian Navy deployed its Special Mission Vessel, DB Lagos, operated under the Deep Blue Project, to intercept and secure the vessel.
According to NIMASA, the ship’s crew followed standard maritime security protocols by taking refuge in the Citadel—a fortified safe room on board—while awaiting rescue.
“NIMASA is actively coordinating with the Nigerian Navy and other regional maritime security agencies to ensure the crew’s safety and support ongoing investigations,” said Osagie Edward, Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations at NIMASA.
Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General of NIMASA, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to regional maritime security, stating:
“NIMASA remains committed to strengthening security collaboration across the Gulf of Guinea to safeguard seafarers, deter criminal activity, and ensure safer maritime trade, leveraging the Deep Blue Project.”
The MT Endo Ponente, identified as a moderate-risk vessel, is a chemical tanker that operates regularly across the waters of West, Central, and Southern Africa. Its last port of call was Kalamu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
While the Gulf of Guinea continues to be considered a high-risk maritime zone, NIMASA emphasized that collaborative efforts like the Deep Blue Project and joint naval operations are playing a crucial role in curbing piracy and securing maritime trade routes.
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