Sea Piracy and Security in Nigerian Maritime Security Environment: Bayelsa State in Perspective

2025-08-05T06:43:35+00:00

Maritime piracy has evolved from an essentially localized phenomenon of adhoc banditry conducted by local criminals to one funded by the global networks of transnational organized crime. They further complicating the issue, the sources of transnational pirate finance and organization have become deeply intertwined with legitimate and criminal forms of private enterprise. These criminal organizations are capable of funding sophisticated piracy operations from hundreds or thousands of miles away. Accordingly, the most successful of the localized counter-piracy efforts have merely pushed the pirates and their financiers into waters bodies, in neigbouring states hence sea pirates are always poised to return to their trade if enforcement efforts fade. The Niger Delta region had been home to a plethora of pirate groups operating in the vast mangrove swamp. The long stretch of undeveloped coastline in Bayelsa state and open ocean will continue to permit the launching of pirate attacks, both on government facilities and the general populace plying the waterways. It is pertinent to note that so long as there are poor men along these shorelines, there will be a ready supply of pirate labor. This study will use both primary and secondary sources of data to examine the activities of sea pirates on maritime transportation in Bayelsa state. This study concludes that better leaving condition and youth employment will greatly help mitigate the level sea piracy in Bayelsa state.

Journal of International Relations Security and Economic Studies

Sea Piracy and Security in Nigerian Maritime Security Environment: Bayelsa State in Perspective