Armed pirates have abducted nine sailors after attacking a fishing trawler off the coast of Gabon, authorities have confirmed.

The attack occurred on Saturday night in Gabonese waters and marks the latest incident of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, a region that stretches over 5,700 kilometres from Senegal to Angola along Africa’s west coast.

According to the Gabonese defence ministry, three armed assailants boarded the fishing vessel IB Fish 7, which was flying the Gabonese flag, while it was operating about seven nautical miles southwest of Ekwata.

In a video statement broadcast by local media on Monday, the navy’s Chief of Staff, Hubert Bekale Meyong, said the attackers abducted nine crew members during the assault.

“This attack, perpetrated by three armed individuals, led to the abduction of nine crew members, including five Chinese nationals and four Indonesians,” Meyong said.

He added that six other sailors, comprising Indonesian, Chinese, and Burkinabe nationals, were left behind on the vessel after the attackers fled.

Gabonese security forces later located the trawler and escorted it safely to the port of Libreville. Authorities have since opened an investigation into the incident, while efforts are expected to focus on tracking the abductors and securing the release of the kidnapped sailors.

The incident follows a similar attack in February last year, when three sailors were kidnapped at gunpoint from a fishing trawler in waters close to Gabon’s capital.

The Gulf of Guinea is a critical maritime corridor, particularly for oil and gas shipments, as it borders several major West African oil-producing countries. It is also frequented by commercial fishing vessels, leisure boats, and tourists, including those visiting Gabon’s coastline for whale-watching activities.

Although the region was once considered one of the most dangerous maritime zones globally due to rampant piracy, attacks have declined in recent years following coordinated crackdowns by Gulf of Guinea states, supported by European partners. However, Saturday’s incident highlights that the threat of piracy in the region has not been completely eliminated.