Tanker attacked more than 200 miles south of Lagos

Reports have suggested that the pirates operating in the Gulf of Guinea have significantly extended their range after a product carrier was fired upon last week whilst transiting over 200 miles south of Lagos.

The crew of the ship which declined to be identified reported three outboard powered skiffs approaching their starboard quarter moving to amidships and directing automatic gunfire at the ship.  The ship was able to evade the pirates but the significant distance of these light craft from the shore implies the support of a mother ship similar to the technique used for long range attacks by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean.