But who are the pirates?

Why have attacks increased and what is being done about it?

Experts say the pirates come from Nigeria's turbulent *** Delta, a region that produces the bulk of the country's petroleum but is also underdeveloped, scarred by pollution and has high unemployment bye.

Last year's oil price crash and Nigeria's second recession in five years have worsened the economic hardship.

Illegal activities such as oil theft and piracy are a lure for those desperate for money on the creeks that snake through the swampy region provide an escape route on a place to hide kidnapped crew.

Those who once stole cargo or siphoned oil have also discovered that companies will pay large sums in ransom.

The International Maritime Bureau has tracked a steady increase in kidnappings over recent years.

Enduring 2020 pirates in the Gulf seized 130 seafarers in 22 separate incidents, accounting for all but five of those taken at sea world wide.

The Gulf of Guinea borders 20 countries and is a key route for everything from soda to steal in a region that relies heavily on imports, Saturday's attack will locally increase pressure on Nigeria to do mawr.

It has an initiative known as Deep Blue to develop maritime surveillance and security on blast year secured its first conviction under a new anti piracy law.

There's also the You one day code, established in 2013 between 25 countries in the region to coordinate on piracy and other crimes.

But most countries in the area ban international navies, all armed private security from their waters.

Foreign navies such as France, Spain and Italy already patrol the region's international waters, but Shipping Trade Association been co says there's an urgent need for a coordinated international law enforcement operation.