Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee at Ikot Abasi local government area of Akwa Ibom State have arrested nine suspects over alleged illegal activities within the maritime domain of the state.
The NNS Jubilee Commander, Commodore Abubakar Umar, who disclosed this to newsmen at the Base in Ikot Abasi yesterday, said the arrest of the suspects followed credible intelligence on illegal operations of a criminal group known as “Nigerian Coast Guard.”
“Nigerian Navy Ship Jubilee arrested the Nigerian Coast Guard coordinator and eight members of the acclaimed group in Akwa Ibom State.
“This arrest is an enforcement of the Federal Government Official Gazette signed on August 28, 2013, as enshrined in the Criminal Code Act. Cap. C38 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004,” Umar recalled.
He explained that thenation’s constitution also empowers the Nigerian Navy with the responsibility to ensure that such illegal organisations do not operate in the maritime environment.
“This is in furtherance to the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla’s operational directive at ensuring that our maritime domain is safe and secured from illegal activities in order to enhance socio-economic development of our nation,” he stressed.
