File photo shows four suspected pirates are paraded by the Nigerian Navy at the Military of Defence Jetty, Marina in Lagos, Nigeria, on August 20, 2013. The suspected pirates allegedly hijacked an oil vessel, MV Crow, at the Escravos River on the Gulf of Guinea August 14, 2013. (Xinhua/Olatunji Obasa)

ABUJA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria has seen a significant reduction in pirate attacks within its coast in the past six months due to measures taken by the government, defense minister Mansur Dan-Ali said on Wednesday.

In a statement, Dan-Ali said only four successful attacks were recorded out of 16 attempted pirate attacks during the period.

A total of 36 successful attacks were recorded out of 55 attempted attacks within the same period last year, the official noted.

According to him, the socio-economic agitations in the Niger Delta region of the country had contributed to the rise in attacks on oil facilities and vessels, in addition to kidnapping, crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and refining recorded in recent years.

He said the combination of infrastructure development programs, engagements with local communities, sustenance of the amnesty program for repentant ex-militants and improved maritime policing activities had proved effective in stemming the tide of insecurity around the coast of Nigeria.

The Nigerian government had also activated a dedicated anti-piracy operation off the coast of Niger Delta, he said.

The minister called for more engaging cooperation and operational collaboration among Gulf of Guinea states, especially in the area of information sharing on maritime criminal networks, individuals and vessels.