Navy Destroys 120 Illegal Refineries, Arrests 84 Vessels, Crew

The chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin has revealed that the Nigerian Navy destroyed a total of 120 illegal refineries and arrested 84 vessels and their crew from January 2014 to date. Usman made the revelation yesterday during a media briefing to herald the Nigerian Navy 59th anniversary where he called for a law that would empower the naval authorities to prosecute suspected criminals engaged in theft, vandalism or destruction of public properties. The naval chief who was represented by the naval chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Johnson Olutoyin lamented that sometimes suspects handed over to relevant prosecuting authorities always find themselves back in the country’s waters committing the same offence.

“The Nigerian Navy is not one of the prosecuting agencies for suspects arrested in our waters. Where such suspects are arrested for criminal activities dealing with pipeline vandalism or damages to our national infrastructure and facilities in our waters such suspects are handed over to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for prosecution.

“Where such suspects have been arrested on criminals activities such suspects are handed over to the Nigeria police for prosecution. All we seek is for a diligent prosecution of those suspects so that at the end of the day as many of them would have been taken off such illegal activities”.

“From January 2014 till date, the Nigerian Navy in collaboration with the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield and other security agencies arrested over 84 vessels and their crew that were involved in maritime related crimes.

“Furthermore, over 120 illegal oil refineries, 29 barges, 93 large wooden boats and 1259 auxiliary equipment were destroyed within the same period. It is worth stating that the arrested vessels on which preliminary investigations have been completed by the Nigerian Navy, have been handed over to appropriate agencies for prosecution.

“It is unfortunate that the diligent and conclusive prosecution of suspects in the law courts by the prosecuting agencies has been a major challenge to the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies operating in our waters. What that seems to point out is the fact that as we arrest some of the suspects and we hand them over, because of lack of diligent prosecution before a period of three to six months the same suspects are again back into our waters perpetrating some of these illegal activities,” he said.

The naval chief also called for enhancement of its indigenous ship building capacity, saying that it is critical to meeting the country’s requirements for the navy. (Leadership)