Nigerian soldiers burn down pirates houses

Nigerian soldiers have burned down more than 20 homes suspected to belong to pirates in the Niger Delta, following a gun battle in which six people were killed. 

A security source told reporters that pirates attacked a military gunboat which was escorting a vessel off the Nigerian coast on Sunday.

The attack resulted in four soldiers and two civilians onboard the vessel being killed. 

The assault prompted a manhunt by security forces, who burnt down houses they believed were owned by pirates in the nearby Lutugbene community. 

According to a report on the State of Maritime Piracy by One Earth Future, the waters of the Niger Delta and surrounding Gulf of Guinea are some of the most dangerous shipping lanes in the world. 

Photo: Getty Images