Two British maritime security guards arrested in Nigeria

Port2Port confirmed that two of its security contractors, Vincent Hayward and Piers Eastward, were arrested by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, on 28 March. The two men had been detained since 21 March as part of an investigation into a 3rd party, who was suspected of crude oil theft.

They were detained on 21 March at Warri, Nigeria while waiting with Nigeria Government Security to embark to the tanker Crete to provide maritime security services to the vessel.

“Port2Port West Africa vehemently denies that its contractors were or ever have been involved in crude oil theft or illegal activity of any kind,” the security contractor said.

“We made the British High Commission in Abuja aware of this very serious incident on Saturday 22 March and we remain in constant communication with the them and the families of our security contractors, who are clearly extremely concerned.”

Port2Port said they had been contracted by Nimex Petroleum to provide maritime security services from the Crete for a voyage from Warri across the Gulf of Guinea.

Nimex said it engaged private security as the vessel had been attacked by pirates on a previous voyage.

“Port2Port West Africa was contracted by Nimex Petroleum to provide maritime security services to our chartered vessel, Crete which was officially granted Nigerian Naval Clearance to load evacuated petroleum products based on an agreement between Fenix Impex (as seller) and Nimex Petroleum (as buyer) for a trans Gulf of Guinea voyage,” said Azmat Mahmood, chairman and ceo of Nimex Petroleum Group.

“Through no fault of either of Port2Port West Africa or Nimex Petroleum, Port2Port personnel were subsequently arrested and falsely and incorrectly accused of wrongdoing,” added.

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