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COTONOU, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Benin's government on Wednesday announced scaled up protection, security and safety measures for hovering vessels in the Cotonou port.
The measures include the "provision of an armed protection squad on board", according to a government release made public Wednesday night.
"The presence of the squad is going to prevent any attempts of piracy and to alert operating centers", the release also said.
The enhanced measures have been taken after pirates boarded on Saturday a Norwegian-firm-owned ship MV Bonita and kidnapped nine crew members.
The piracy act occurred as the vessel was at anchor off the coast of the west African country.
