According to the International Maritime Bureau, the number of attacks on vessels off the Nigerian coast (Gulf of Guinea) could exceed those off the Somalian coast ( Gulf of Aden).

Armed robbery incidents could vary from robbers boarding with knives or with highly sophisticated weapons.  As of Wednesday night there had been 48 attacks in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia reported since the start of the year. Five vessels were hijacked, 102 crew members taken hostage and a further 24 vessels fired upon. Seven ships and 118 crew were still in detention.

The number of vessels that have actually been hijacked has been steadily dropping. While in October last year the ratio of attacks to hijacks was one in three, this ratio has dropped to one in 19 by this month, as a result of the increased presence of naval forces patrolling in the gulf.