The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has confirmed that an attempted piracy attack on the oil tanker MT Endo Ponente in the Gulf of Guinea was successfully thwarted.
According to a statement issued by NIMASA’s Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, the incident occurred on Friday, 28 August 2025. The Togo Navy boarded the vessel following the attempted attack and verified that all crew members were unharmed, with no damage recorded onboard.
The ship is currently in the custody of the Togo Navy, which promptly reported the situation to the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC), Zone E. This zone, operating under the Yaoundé Architecture for maritime security, covers Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Niger Republic.
“The operation underscores the value of regional cooperation. MMCC Zone F, headquartered in Accra, Ghana, provided constant monitoring and information-sharing with all relevant stakeholders throughout the incident,” Edward said.
He also disclosed that the NIMASA Special Mission Vessel, DB Lagos—operated by the Nigerian Navy under the Deep Blue Project—was deployed after the NIMASA C4i Centre in Lagos confirmed the attempted attack. Investigations are now underway to establish the identity of the attackers.
The Gulf of Guinea was once recognised as one of the world’s most dangerous regions for piracy, with incidents often targeting oil tankers and commercial shipping. However, international and regional cooperation, particularly under the Yaoundé Architecture signed in 2013, has led to a notable decline in successful hijackings in recent years. In 2021, the International Maritime Bureau reported a steep decline in piracy cases in the region, attributing the improvement to enhanced naval patrols and strong initiatives such as Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project. The foiled attack on MT Endo Ponente highlights the progress being made in strengthening maritime security in the region.
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