Navy warns smugglers to stay clear of Nigeria’s maritime waterways

The Commanding officer, Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Ibaka, Navy Captain Muhammed Kabiru has warned smugglers operating along the country’s waterways to stop their criminal activities, as the operating base would not compromise on the Naval Chief’s directives of zero tolerance to criminalities on Nigeria maritime domain.

The Commanding Officer issued this threat while speaking with journalists in Ibaka, Mbo council area of Akwa Ibom state, during handing over of 230 bags of rice seized to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

He said the seizure was premised on the directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Auwul Gambo, on zero tolerance for all forms of criminalities on Nigeria’s maritime waters.

Represented by the Base Operations Officer, Lt. -Cdr. Samuel Olowookere said the 230 bags of rice were seized from smugglers on Sunday, April 10, during a routine patrol, adding that the smuggled rice was concealed inside the boat ferrying market women.

According to him, the smugglers were arrested along Effiat waterways in the Mbo local government area of the state during the routine patrol of men and officers of the forward operating base.

He explained that the smugglers on sighting the naval patrol team jumped into the creek and abandoned the boat with the consignment to evade arrest.

“On behalf of the Commanding Officer of FOB, Ibaka, Navy Capt. M. M Kabiru, we shall be handing over 230 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice suspected to be smuggled into Nigeria from the Republic of Cameroon to Superintendent of Customs, Mr. Kikems Danbana,” he said.

The commanding officer warned smugglers to stay clear of the Nigerian maritime borders, stressing that personnel of FOB Ibaka would not relent until Akwa Ibom waterways were free from all forms of criminalities.

He urged them to desist from smuggling and other illegal businesses and should engage themselves in legitimate endeavours to avoid being arrested.

“This arrest was made on Sunday, April 10 at about 03:29hours by personnel of Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, who is constantly at the waterways to ensure that the waterways is safe from all form of maritime illegalities.

“It is important to also state that the patrol is conducted in compliance with the strategic directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Auwul Gambo, which is in consonance with directives of Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command.

“So, as much as these criminals will not stop operating in the waterways, we will also not stop to make sure that we catch up on them and hand them over to the necessary prosecuting agencies,” he said.

Receiving the suspects and 230 bags of rice on behalf of the Nigerian Customs Service, Mr Kikems Danbana, Officer in Charge of the Oron Joint Border Patrol Team, commended the Navy for their vigilance, assuring that Customs would do everything possible to stop smuggling in the country.

He said the rice would be transferred to a government warehouse in Calabar, the only approved warehouse for Akwa Ibom and Cross River for custody of seized items.