DAKAR, Senegal

At least 16 sailors have been abducted by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to reports from international maritime websites, three ships were attacked by pirates May 1-4 off the coasts of Nigeria and Gabon within the borders of the gulf.

At the beginning of May, pirates took control of one of the Panama-flagged oil-laden ships off the coast of Nigeria with a speedboat and kidnapped 10 crew members.

Other attacks were made on fishing boats.

The Gulf of Guinea is known as the world’s most dangerous piracy zone where 90% of global crew member kidnappings take place.