Militants attack oil tanker off the Nigerian coast

Unidentified militants attacked an oil tanker off the Nigerian coast on 21 January 2009. Reports indicate that the MT Meredith was carrying 4,000 tons of diesel fuel en route from Lagos to Port Harcourt when it was attacked at the Bonny Fairway Buoy in Rivers state. The ship was traveling a route that is regularly used for transport and is supposed to be under constant military protection. Militants kidnapped at least one Romanian crewmember during the attack and severely damaged the vessel, using dynamite to blow up the ship's engine. The incident is the latest attack off the Nigerian coast. Gunmen also attacked Royal Dutch Shell installations off of Bonny on 18 January, killing at least one person and kidnapping several Nigerian workers.