In Akwa Ibom State, officers from the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, in the Mbo Local Government Area, apprehended 35 suspected smugglers in possession of 408 barrels of illegally processed Automotive Gas Oil (diesel).
On Wednesday, the suspects and confiscated items, which included three wooden boats, were turned over to members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The suspects were apprehended by the Nigerian Navy Ship Thunder on November 6 during a normal exercise, according to the Commanding Officer, FOB, Capt. Mohammed Abu.
“I am handing them over to you as the prosecuting agency to carry out further investigation and prosecute them accordingly and revert to the Nigerian Navy on the outcome,” Abu added
The commanding officer, on the other hand, refuted recent claims that sea robbers had disrupted commercial activity in Ibaka, claiming that the attacks took place outside of Nigeria’s maritime boundaries.
“The attacks on fishermen were not on Nigerian maritime waters; they were attacked at Abana, which is outside our maritime boundary. Several times, I have engaged the fishermen in the base here and advised them not to go to Cameroon to fish.
“The other aspect is that the fishermen don’t only go there to fish, they go at night. And sea robbers take advantage of the night to attack.
“I assumed duty when the fishermen were no longer going out for fishing for six weeks and that was what informed their protest. I strategized and gave them the green flag that I would support them and ensure that they were not attacked.
“I deployed our boats and identified the creeks where they (hoodlums) were operating within Mbo waterways. As I speak to you, I have three of our boats that have choked them up in the creeks within the waterways at Unyenge, Okposo, and Ikang.
“So, this does not give these robbers within our maritime domain freedom of action to operate. As you can physically see, the fishermen are back from the sea after their fishing expedition,” he added.
On behalf of the agency, the suspects and exhibits were received by the Head of Anti-Vandals, NSCDC, Akwa Ibom State, Assistant Commandant of Corps, Adamu Jafaaru.
Jafaaru cautioned vandals against harming the economy, emphasizing that the NSCDC will not abandon its mission of safeguarding key infrastructure.
Ada Peter
