Navy parades 2 ex-militants for engaging in piracy
The Nigerian Navy in Calabar paraded two former militants for allegedly engaging in piracy in the area.
The duo, were paraded at the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Adm. Usman Jibrin.
Jibrin alleged that the duo belonged to a notorious gang of pirates that had been operating within the Eastern territorial waters.
"The gang was suspected to be responsible for series of sea robberies, acts of piracy, arms smuggling as well as terrorising fishing trawlers and other vessels along the waterways of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States", Jibrin added.
He said the two former militants, whose names were given as Alambulo Werighuofe and Gabriel Dressman, belonged to a gang that had been terrorising the people within the maritime territory.
Jibrin said that personnel of the command from NNS Jubilee Ikot Abas, in Akwa Ibom, discovered a base operated by pirates while on routine patrol of the area.
According to him, the base is at Edowik Fishing Camp in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of the state.
"The Naval personnel stormed the camp where two of the suspected pirates were arrested.
" Among the arrested was the deputy gang leader known as Alambulo.
"The other suspect is one Mr Dressman. Both of them are beneficiaries of the Federal Government's
amnesty programme.
"The deputy gang leader, Alambulo is also suspected to have participated with the group that attacked the Atlas Cove Jetty in July 2009 which claimed the lives of several naval personnel, including an officer of Commander’s rank.
"I wish to assure you that we are on the trail of the fleeing members of the gang and we will not rest on our oars until we get them arrested and brought to justice.
"The Nigerian Navy will intensify its effort to chase all these hoodlums and other criminal elements out of our maritime environment,” he said.
Jibrin said the menace of pirates had been a source of concern to maritime operators because it had affected the nation’s drive for foreign direct investment negatively.
Jibrin restated the Navy’s determination to make the nation’s maritime domain safe for legitimate economic activities to thrive and to attract foreign investors to invest in the nation’s maritime industry.
He said that piracy posed a major challenge to the Navy as the leading agency in the provision of maritime
security.
The FOC had earlier assured that he would deal with pirates and other criminal elements operating within the maritime environment when he took delivery of six fast-attack patrol boats recently.
According to him, the Nigerian Navy is capable of safeguarding the nation’s maritime environment.
The Nigerian Navy in Calabar paraded two former militants for allegedly engaging in piracy in the area.
The duo, were paraded at the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Adm. Usman Jibrin.
Jibrin alleged that the duo belonged to a notorious gang of pirates that had been operating within the Eastern territorial waters.
"The gang was suspected to be responsible for series of sea robberies, acts of piracy, arms smuggling as well as terrorising fishing trawlers and other vessels along the waterways of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States", Jibrin added.
He said the two former militants, whose names were given as Alambulo Werighuofe and Gabriel Dressman, belonged to a gang that had been terrorising the people within the maritime territory.
Jibrin said that personnel of the command from NNS Jubilee Ikot Abas, in Akwa Ibom, discovered a base operated by pirates while on routine patrol of the area.
According to him, the base is at Edowik Fishing Camp in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of the state.
"The Naval personnel stormed the camp where two of the suspected pirates were arrested.
" Among the arrested was the deputy gang leader known as Alambulo.
"The other suspect is one Mr Dressman. Both of them are beneficiaries of the Federal Government's
amnesty programme.
"The deputy gang leader, Alambulo is also suspected to have participated with the group that attacked the Atlas Cove Jetty in July 2009 which claimed the lives of several naval personnel, including an officer of Commander’s rank.
"I wish to assure you that we are on the trail of the fleeing members of the gang and we will not rest on our oars until we get them arrested and brought to justice.
"The Nigerian Navy will intensify its effort to chase all these hoodlums and other criminal elements out of our maritime environment,” he said.
Jibrin said the menace of pirates had been a source of concern to maritime operators because it had affected the nation’s drive for foreign direct investment negatively.
Jibrin restated the Navy’s determination to make the nation’s maritime domain safe for legitimate economic activities to thrive and to attract foreign investors to invest in the nation’s maritime industry.
He said that piracy posed a major challenge to the Navy as the leading agency in the provision of maritime
security.
The FOC had earlier assured that he would deal with pirates and other criminal elements operating within the maritime environment when he took delivery of six fast-attack patrol boats recently.
According to him, the Nigerian Navy is capable of safeguarding the nation’s maritime environment.
No comments:
Post a Comment