Navy nabs 17 sea piracy, armed robbery suspects in A’Ibom

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Jubilee has arrested 17 suspects involved in sea piracy, armed robbery, noting that it also destroyed 15 militants’ camps within its area of jurisdiction in Akwa Ibom State.

The Commander of the NNS Jubilee in Akwa Ibom State, Commodore Abdulmajid Ibrahim, said this during a courtesy call on him by members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council on Thursday.

According to Ibrahim, the militant camps, were discovered and destroyed during its anti-piracy and anti-sea robbery operations.

The commander added that the destruction of the militants’ camps was made possible through the navy’s penetration of some of the creeks within the jurisdiction of the base. 

Ibrahim explained that between May 2020 and January, the navy during its routine operations destroyed the 15 militant camps, arrested 17 piracy and sea robbery suspects.

He stated further that during the period, the navy also seized 285,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and different kinds of ammunition from the suspects.

He said: “Within six months as commander of the base, we have destroyed 15 militant camps, arrested 17 suspects during our operations and recovered 285,000 litres of AGO and ammunition from them, and have handed over the suspects and items to the prosecuting agencies.

“We involve in joint patrol with the police across the base communities every day. This has led to relative peace and security in the area and brought illegal bunkering to the barest minimum.

“Our strategy is continuous aggressive patrol. We try to dominate the water space and maritime environment. Within the last six months, there has been no attack on the NNS infrastructure.

“We have maintained a good civil-military relationship with our host community, through our Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We carry out free medical consultations and give out drugs within our capacity in our medical rhapsody outreach programme,” Ibrahim said.

The commander stated that the joint patrol operations of the Navy and Nigerian Police Force have resulted in relative peace and security in the area and brought illegal bunkering and trade on the water ways to a barest minimum.

Ibrahim attributed the success of their operations to Intelligence information gathered from members of the public and called for more support in that regard.

He assured that the sources of such information would remain confidential and protected, stressing that to effectively deal with piracy and sea robbery, members of the public must volunteer credible information to the navy.

The commander reminded the people that perpetrators of illegal maritime activities, live within the communities and were known to the people. He urged the people to volunteer information of their nefarious activities, adding that would help the navy and other security agencies to tackle the crime.