The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), Delta, has handed over 15 suspects and a Merchant Fishing Vessel (MVF) Lily IV to the Department of Fishery, Ministry of Agriculture, Edo State, for further investigation.
The suspects and the vessel were handed over to the representative of the Fishery Department, Mr Iwanegbe America, on Wednesday at the Navy base jetty in Warri.
Navy Capt. Solomon Paul, the Executive Officer of the NNS Delta, released the vessel and the suspects on behalf of the Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Abba Muhsin.
Addressing journalists, Commodore Muhsin said that the vessel and the suspects were arrested on March 11, 2024, in Forcados, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta.
He said that the vessel with the suspects onboard was apprehended for illegal entry into the Maritime Exclusion Zone of the Forcados Oil Terminal Crude Loading Platform.
“We are here to hand over MFV Lily IV and 15 suspects, comprising 14 Nigerians and one Ghanaian.
“On March 11, 2024, MV Kingston, a private maritime security company vessel belonging to Ocean Marine Services (OMS), was contracted by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Nigeria Limited.
“With the Nigerian Navy personnel onboard, they intercepted and arrested a merchant fishing vessel, Lily IV. The vessel was consequently taken under custody by the Forward Operation Base (FOB), Escravos, for investigation on March 13.
“While the preliminary investigation revealed that there was insufficient evidence to prove that MFV Lily IV entered the Maritime Exclusion Zone of the Forcados Oil Terminal Crude Loading Platform,.
“The investigation revealed that two of the crew members were not registered on the vessel’s manifest,” he said.
Commodore Muhsin warned mariners to desist from violating the maritime laws within the nation’s territorial waterways, stressing that any defaulter would be sanctioned accordingly.
He said that this was one of a series of actions by the Nigerian Navy aimed at keeping the Nigerian waterways safe for better navigation and commercial activities.
The naval boss said that NNS Delta remained resolute in freeing its Area of Operations from all forms of illegalities, which, according to him, was part of the ‘Navy’s coast guard functions towards nation-building.
Commodore Muhsin, however, thanked all the government agencies and good-spirited members of society who had supported their operations to rid the maritime domain of illegalities.
Upon receiving the vessel and the suspects, Mr America, an Assistant Director, Department of Fishery, Ministry of Agriculture, Edo, commended the Navy for its good job.
“I am receiving the vessel and the suspects from the Navy. They have done a good job. The Department of Fisheries will take further steps, and they may face prosecutions,” America said.
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