The Navy yesterday paraded paraded four suspected pirates in Lagos, who allegedly hijacked an oil vessel, MV Crow at the Escravos on August 14.
They were paraded a few days after 12 of a 16-man gang of pirates who allegedly hijacked a vessel, MT Norde, loaded with petroleum products were killed in Warri, Delta State.
The suspects, according to the Commander Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, were arrested in Ondo State following a tip off from Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
While parading the suspects at the Defence Jetty, Marina, Ezekoba said the vessel was pursued to Aiyetoro, Ondo State.
He said: “When we circled her, there was no sign of life on board. We called and radioed severally but there was no response.
“Of course, our suspicion was aroused and then we fired a barrage of shots into the air. Once they heard the shots, the sea robbers came out and threw their weapons into the water.”
On how the navy intends to maintain the tempo and ensure the nation’s waters were safe, he said: “If the acquisition of more vessels are maintained, our waters would be safer. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has listed our country as the second next to Somalia and we are working assiduously to change that perception.
“But it is pertinent to state that our challenge in Nigeria is sea robbery as opposed to piracy which is obtained in Somalia.
“We have over 6000 creeks between Lagos to Calabar and it is easier for the sea robbers to attack and slipback to the creeks.”
However, the leader of the gang, Adekunle Adeboye, who claimed it was his first operation, said the four suspects were deployed by their master known as General.
“General had sent us from Igbokoda to go and hijack oil vessels. This was my very first operation and I was recruited this month. “The ‘General’ promised us money if we succeed in hijacking and emptying an oil vessel,” Adeboye said.
On how they intercepted the vessel and took the nine-man crew hostage, another suspect, Segun Oyo said they trailed the barge and overpowered the crew.
He said: “We trailed the barge and then used our weapons to overpower them. We did not shoot anyone rather we threatened them with the guns and weapons we had on us.
“We were able to overpower them though they had crowd because of our weapons.”
Oyo said he would advise his colleagues to desist from crimes if he was released.
CULLED – THE NATION
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