Navy declares war against sea pirates over killing of personnel

Chinazor Megbolu

The Nigerian Navy has declared war against the sea pirates that killed four of its personnel and stealing of riffles belonging to the security agency.

To this end, the Navy had declared a curfew at Gagira, a suburb of Awoye coastal community in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State at the weekend.

The Naval ratings met their death during an exchange of gunfire that ensued between them and the pirates on a rescue mission over the kidnap of three foreigners.

The curfew was imposed on the community by Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda, Commodore Danjuma Ndanusa who insisted that the four military rifles and seven magazines stolen during the gun duel must be recovered.

He also hinted that one of the arrested sea pirates said the rifles were in the community.

“We intimated them on what is at stake. It is like sleeping on a time bomb. I told all the Baales (village heads) to get all their youths and speak with them”.

“That was why we did a total search and we found four telephones and one walkie-talkie belonging to the foreigners”.

“I made this known to the four Baales from the community”.

“We also made a search on the boat they came with from Bayelsa State; we were able to recover empty magazines from guns on the floor of their boat”.