Murtala Mohamed Kamara, AfricaNews reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
Pirates have attacked an oil tanker off the coast of West Africa killing a Ukrainian. The pirates who are believed to come from Nigeria attacked the vessel 18 nautical miles (33km) off the coast of Benin.
The Benin Naval forces Commander Fernand Maxime Ahoyo confirmed the killing of the chief engineer of the vessel and another member of the crew who sustained wounds, This Day newspaper reported.
Ahoyo according to the report said the rest of the crew on the Monrovia-flagged vessel has been rescued safely among them Filipinos, Lithuanians and Ukranians.
AfricaNews reporter said piracy has become a booming business in East Africa for mostly unemployed youths. The war torn nation of Somalia in particular has the world highest piracy records in recent times. The attackers are specialized in hostage taking and demanding of huge ransom.
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said they have recorded over 100 incidents in the last one year alone in West Africa and the act is in the increase.
AFCON: 46 hurt in Zambia victory celebrations09/02
African Peer Review Mechanism making progress08/02
Combating HIV infections among African women08/02
Legume cultivation booms in Western Kenya07/02
Malawi vendors chase out Chinese07/02
Zim: Informal sector urged to join HIV battle05/02
Elections: Wole Soyinka warns Mugabe, Wade03/02
AU elections rescheduled for June in Malawi01/02
