Piracy network in Nigeria refers to the organisation of actors involved in the sophisticated, complex piracy activities: piracy kidnappings and petro-piracy. The most organised piracy activities in the Gulf of Guinea takes place in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.[1][2] A large number of both non-state and formal state actors are involved in a piracy operation, indicating a vast social network.[2] As revealed by the arrested pirate Bless Nube “we do not work in isolation. We have a network of ministries’ workers. What they do is to give us information on the location and content of the vessels to be hijacked. After furnishing us with the information, they would make part payment, and after the hijack, they would pay us the balance.”[3] Pirate groups draw on the pirate network to gain access to actors who provide security, economic resources, and support to pirate operations. This includes government officials, businesspeople, armed groups, and transnational mafia.
The organisation of the piracy network is not based around a single person, pirate group, or ethnic group, but rather based on cooperation between the involved actors. Members of the piracy network are hired on a case-to-case basis, based on their skill and contribution to each piracy operations.[4][5] Members can enter and exit the piracy network as they please, thus the organisational structure varies from operation to operation.[4] The average piracy operation requires between 40-60 members. This includes the pirate groups directly involved in attacks, and other players who can provide financing, insider information, ransom negotiation and money laundering, and facilitate sales of stolen goods. From the pirate groups, usually 3-10 pirates participate in attacks. On rare occasions, up to 20-30 pirates in multiple speedboats participate in attacks.[2] Although membership is fluid, the various roles needed for successful piracy operations are not. These roles include pirate leaders, operational crew, sponsors, informants, security, facilitators, transport, and sales.[4]
- ^ Hastings, Justin V.; Phillips, Sarah G. (2015-09-01). "Maritime piracy business networks and institutions in Africa". African Affairs. 114 (457): 555–576. doi:10.1093/afraf/adv040. ISSN 0001-9909.
- ^ a b c Daxecker, Ursula; Prins, Brandon (2021). Pirate Lands: Governance and Maritime Piracy. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oso/9780190097394.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-009742-4.
- ^ Nwalozie, Chijioke J. (2020-12-01). "Exploring Contemporary Sea Piracy in Nigeria, the Niger Delta and the Gulf of Guinea". Journal of Transportation Security. 13 (3): 159–178. doi:10.1007/s12198-020-00218-y. ISSN 1938-775X. PMC 7457895.
- ^ a b c Katsouris, C.; Sayne, A. (2013). "Nigeria's Criminal Crude: International Options to Combat the Export of Stolen Oil" (PDF). The Royal Institute of International Affairs – via Chatham House.
- ^ Montclos, Marc-Antoine Pérouse de (2012-07-01). "Maritime Piracy in Nigeria: Old Wine in New Bottles?". Studies in Conflict & Terrorism. 35 (7–8): 531–541. doi:10.1080/1057610X.2012.684651. ISSN 1057-610X. S2CID 219642406.