Navy arrests seven fake officers in Rivers

The Navy on Friday said its men have arrested seven suspects parading themselves as security personnel in Port Harcourt.

The Base Operations Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Commodore Murtala Rogo,  said the suspects, who were onboard a “rogue vessel,” MV Workhorse, were intercepted while escorting an oil tanker, MV Osamewe to an undisclosed location without a permit.

While handing over the suspects to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rogo said: “In line with the Nigerian Navy policing role on the maritime domain, on September 6, we got a tip-off of a vessel carrying out illegal escort duty for an oil tanker.

“Based on this intelligence, we deployed NNS Pathfinder patrol gunboats to Bonny Anchorage to make the arrest.

“On reaching there, our patrol elements arrested seven crew members on board MV Workhorse for providing illegal armed escort to an oil tanker, MV Osamewe.

“The suspects could not provide the appropriate permit to operate as a private maritime logistic support security vessel at the time of arrest.”

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“The Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) are the two leading security agencies with a mandate to police the nation’s waters.”

Rogo also said it was a crime to carry out oil and gas activities within the nation’s maritime environment without approval from the Navy and relevant government agencies.

“So, based on this development, the vessel was remanded in our custody to enable us to carry out a thorough investigation of the matter.

“We have concluded our investigation and we are hereby handing over the vessel and seven suspects to NSCDC.

“The NSCDC will conduct further investigation and possibly prosecute the suspects in court,” Rogo added.

While receiving the suspects and vessel, Assistant Commandant of NSCDC in Rivers, Mr Abdullahi Umar, lauded the Navy for the collaboration that exists between the two security agencies at the state level.

He said the suspects would be arraigned in court for the offence.

“We will immediately launch a credible investigation for possible prosecution of the suspects and any other culprits involved with the case,” the NSCDC official said.

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