Nigerian Navy destroys militant camps, arrests 17 suspected sea pirates in Akwa Ibom

Chinazor Megbolu     |      The Nigerian Navy (NN), NNS Jubilee, has said it destroyed 15 militant camps and arrested 17 suspected sea pirates and sea robbers within its area of jurisdiction in Akwa Ibom State.

The Commander, NNS Jubilee, Commodore Abdulmajid Ibrahim, on Thursday told members of the press at the Jubilee Base in Ikot Abasi, the militant camps were discovered and destroyed and the suspects arrested during the anti-piracy and anti-sea robbery routine operations between May 2020 to January 2021.

He explained the destruction of the camps was made possible through the agency’s penetration of some of the creeks within the jurisdiction of the base.

“During the period, the Navy also seized 285, 000 litres of illegally refined AGO and different kinds of ammunition from the suspects.

“Within six months as commander of the base, we have destroyed 15 militant camps, arrested 17 suspects during our operations and recovered 285,000 litres of AGO and ammunition from them, and have handed over the suspects and items to the prosecuting agencies.

“We were involved in joint patrol with the police across the base communities everyday. This has led to relative peace and security in the area, and brought illegal bunkering to the barest minimum.

“Our strategy is continuous aggressive patrol. We try to dominate the water space and maritime environment.

“Within the last six months, there has been no attack on the NNS infrastructure.

“We have maintained a good civil-military relationship with our host community, through our Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We carry out free medical consultations and give out drugs within our capacity in our medical rhapsody outreach programme,” he said.

Ibrahim further noted that the joint patrol operations of the Navy and Nigeria Police had boosted relative peace and security in the area and brought illegal bunkering and trade on the waterways to the barest minimum.

He buttressed that the success of their operations was as a result of intelligence information gathered from members of the public.

Ibrahim maintained that the sources of such information would remain confidential and protected, so long they members of the public must volunteer credible information in a bid to effectively deal with piracy and sea robbery.

He urged the people to volunteer information on illegal activities that would help the organisation and other security agencies to tackle crimes.