Nigerians cleared in UK hijacking case

Seven Nigerian men will face no action over the suspected hijacking of an oil tanker off the Isle of Wight. Special forces stormed the Nave Andromeda on 25 October after the crew raised concerns about stowaways. Matthew Okorie and Sunday Sylvester had been charged with conduct endangering ships. However, BBC News reports that prosecutors dropped their case after evidence analysis ‘cast doubt’ on whether the tanker was put in danger. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said initial reports had indicated there was a ‘real and imminent threat’ to the vessel, but added mobile phone footage and witness accounts ‘could not show that the ship or crew were threatened’ and there was no evidence the men had any intention to seize control of the vessel. The CPS said the new evidence meant the ‘legal test’ for the offence was ‘no longer met’.