Navy Hands over 10 Suspected Vandals to NSCDC

Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has handed over 10 suspected pipeline vandals to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), alongside a large wooden boat.

The suspects were said to have been conveying
approximately 210,000 litres of AGO concealed
in Geepee water tanks inside a large wooden boat around the Lagos Anchorage before they were accosted by NNS BEECROFT operatives.

According to the Commander, NNS BEECROFT Commodore Bashir Mohammed, preliminary investigation conducted by the base revealed
that the suspects are of Nigerian origin and were
attempting to smuggle the AGO to Benin Republic before their arrest.

In a statement by the Base Information Officer, NNS BEECROFT, Sub Lieutenant VI Effiong, the arrest was based on the “determination of the Nigerian Navy (NN) to rid Nigeria’s Maritime space of all forms of criminality and the emplacement of a safe maritime environment for legitimate businesses to thrive”.

Noting that the patrol on May 8 yielded a positive
result, she said the vandals and seized products were on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 handed over to the Lagos Command of the NSCDC for further investigation and prosecution.

The commander, who reiterated NNS BEECROFT`s committment to the protection of critical national infrastructure and the eradication of all illegal activities in its Area of Responsibility, noted that it was in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff`s mission statement and Strategic Directive of 2021-5.

He further posited that as partners for a safe maritime environment, members of the public “especially our host communities are enjoined to kindly furnish the base with credible information to assist in curbing the activities of criminal element and economic
saboteurs”.

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