Merchant Sail Navy officials missing after Military Invasion

The Merchant Sail Navy has raised an alarm to security agencies across the country, alleging that six of its officials went missing after some armed men with military Special Force uniform invaded its office in Lagos.

In a letter to the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, dated 28th September 2023, Director General of the Merchant Sail Navy, Capt JohnLinus Okoronkwo said the military men stormed the office illegally through the fence.

“We the Merchant Sail Navy consortium of Certified Nigeria Seafarers (Maritime graduates and Cadets) and genuine entrepreneurs, established and incorporated under the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja Nigeria would love to draw the attention of the Nigerian Navy Lagos State to this critical situation that has befallen some of our members by name (1. Chukwuedo Sylvester, 2. Oludipe Olurotimi, 4. Chukwuedo Emmanuel, 4. Akinola Abidemi, 5. Leonard Okonye, 6. Dominic Nwachukwu) who have been missing and out of communication since the 27th September 2023 at about 1230hrs in the day, after some armed men with military Special Force uniform invaded our office through the fence at 33 Akabueze Street by Majek Bustop Lekki Expressway Lagos State without any official notice, damaged some properties and accosted the above mentioned members.

“We are seriously worried over their whereabout and we request for the Nigeria Security agencies to assist us investigate and rescue our members”

Capt JohnLinus however in a separate chat with our correspondent accused the Nigerian Navy of being the mastermind behind the secret invasion.

He said “So far the Merchant Sail Navy Sent a letter of awareness of her missing members and officers to the Nigeria Police Force (Area J division, Commissioner of Police Force Lagos State and to the Flag Commanding Officer Nigerian Navy) which was all received and acknowledged by the above mentioned bodies. Note, the letters was delivered by our officers on uniform.

“But we also want to sue the Nigerian Navy, for invading our property and destroying of our office.

“So far, we sent people to western Naval headquarters Apapa after we got information from friends working there, the Navy where so angry on how we got to know about the location of our officers.

“The Navy called some Media team and captured our officers and took them away, without notifying us where to meet them.

But we confirmed that they will be taken to Panti SCID and it was around after 5pm in the evening with the heavy raining” he said.