8 February 2008, LONDON (Reuters)—The world's biggest seafaring union says it wants Nigerian waters declared a war zone after an alarming rise in attacks and kidnappings on merchant shipping by rebels.The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), which represents 186 maritime unions and some 700,000 seafarers worldwide, said it was pressing shipping associations and major shipping firms to recognize the dangers of operating off Nigeria.
"This is in response to an increasing number of attacks and kidnappings by the Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)," ITF spokesman Sam Dawson said. He said it was the first time the ITF had recommended such a course of action for the West African nation. One of MEND's most violent factions has claimed responsibility for last week's raid on a navy outpost that killed three soldiers, a remote controlled bombing of an oil tanker in January, and dozens of other attacks.
Insurers have already raised hull war-risk rates for shippers who operate in the area in the last month, following a spate of attacks onshore and offshore.
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