Nigeria says countries around the Gulf of Guinea should work togetherto make the region safer. Gunmen, allegedly from Nigeria, attackedEquatorial Guinea's presidential palace, last week. The Gulf of Guineahas seen persistent acts of piracy, in recent years.
Nigerian Foreign Minister OjoMaduekwe says last week's assault on Equatorial Guinea's presidentialpalace was a wake-up call for countries in the oil-rich Gulf of Guineato join forces to deal with armed groups out to destabilize the region.
"Militantsare attacking us. Are they not? Are Niger Delta militants notattacking institutions of the federal government? All the countrieswithin the Gulf of Guinea are being affected, in one way or the other,which strength of credence to the need for the Gulf of Guinea guards'scheme. So, we all share the same vulnerabilities and we must worktogether to confront the challenge against each one of us," saidMaduekwe.
The authorities in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, on thewest coast of Africa, had accused the gunmen who took part in lastTuesday's sea-borne attack of being member of the Movement for theEmancipation of the Niger Delta, a Nigerian militant group.
MEND,which regularly attacks oil facilities in southern Nigeria, saying itis fighting for a greater share of the region's oil resource, hasdenied any involvement. The group says the Nigerian government wasbehind the strike. The government has rejected the claim and issued astrong denunciation of the assault.
Security analysts anddiplomats warn that shipping and oil operations in the Gulf of Guineaare under serious threat, following an increase in the number of daringattacks in waters off West Africa. Criminal gangs in speed boats havelaunched raids on targets in neighboring countries.
TheInternational Maritime Bureau says more than 100 pirate attacksoccurred off West Africa in 2008. West African navies are ill-equippedto protect shipping and to fight off the non-state actors, such asmercenaries.
The Gulf of Guinea holds growing strategic importance as a result of its substantial under-exploited oil and gas reserves.