Nigerian pirates targeted the oil tanker, MT Halifax, boarding the vessel off Port Harcourt in southern Nigeria. The crew of 25 are now being held by the pirates who are expected to steal the oil in the ship’s hold. The pirates are thought to have sailed into the Gulf of Guinea, according to security officials.

The Halifax is owned by the Greek-based Ancora Investment Trust Inc and is flagged out of Malta.

West Africa has seen a growing number of oil tanker hijackings in recent months as pirates target oil shipments from Nigeria, one of the world's biggest producers. It is believed that Somai pirate attacks are now inspiring their Western African counterparts to carry out copy-cat hijackings.

Story courtesy of BBC News, for the full story click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15576373