LAGOS, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's naval forces successfully foiled an attempted hijack of a merchant vessel, MV UAL HOUSTON, around Bonny Fairway Buoy in southern oil rich Rivers State, an official said Friday.
Spokesperson for the Nigerian Navy Capt. Suleman Dahun told Xinhua on Friday in Abuja, the country's capital city that the incident occurred on Thursday.
He said six suspected sea robbers boarded the vessel but were unable to access the ship' s living quarters, bridge or machinery room as the ship was on lock down by the crew.
"On sighting the naval patrol boat, the robbers abandoned their hijack plot and fled," Dahun said.
He said preliminary investigation revealed that no crew member was abducted nor any item was stolen during the attack.
