Maritime lawyers worry over ‘pirates’ killed off Nigeria’s coast by Danish forces

 Nigerian Maritime Law Association has raised concern over the killing of four alleged pirates by the Danish naval forces.

Denmark’s armed forces said on Thursday that Danish naval patrol killed four pirates in an exchange of fire in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of Nigeria.

“No Danish soldiers were injured, but five pirates were shot,” the military said.

“Four of the pirates died. One was injured,” it added.

In a statement, on Saturday, signed by the NMLA President, Funke Agbor, SAN, and the Honorary Secretary, Dr Emeka Akabogu, the association called for an independent enquiry that would look into the precise location of the incident to preserve Nigeria’s sovereignty.

The statement read, “The Nigerian Maritime Law Association views with concern, the recent news that four persons alleged to be pirates have been killed by the Danish Navy from their frigate, Esbern Snare, operating within the waters of the Gulf of Guinea.

“The Association supports all efforts to rid the Gulf of Guinea of piracy, maritime offences and all forms of criminality. It is concerned, however, about the sanctity of Nigeria’s sovereignty, application of the rule of law and respect for protocols of engagement with regard to the instant incident, which is alleged to have occurred in international waters, 25 to 30 nautical miles south of Nigeria’s territorial waters, and the emerging security regime in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Association, therefore, calls for an independent inquiry, focused on establishing the precise location of this incident and whether there has been compliance with the relevant rules of engagement.

“The Association further calls on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA)  to immediately kick-start the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive maritime strategy as mandated by the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019, incorporating strategic security synergy between all law enforcement and commercial shipping actors.”