At least 187 vessels arrested for various infractions in Nigeria’s territorial waters in 2020 are rotting away at the different jetties belonging to the Nigerian Navy (NN).
A statement issued by the NN Director of Information, Commodore Sulaiman Dahun, gave the breakdown of the seizures as 87 vessels, 43 barges, 57 speed boats, 393 destroyed wooden boats, 13 trucks and 16 impounded vehicles with some involved in oil theft.
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He said 13 of the seized vessels have already been forfeited to the federal government while he others have been handed over to various prosecuting agencies for jurisdiction.
“The prosecution of maritime offences received a boost in the year 2020 following the enactment and application of the law on piracy and suppression of violent crimes at sea.”
He further revealed that within the same period, 140 tankers/ trucks and 404 vehicles involved in smuggling activities were also impounded.
Dahun said the navy has directed her units and formations that have common maritime borders with other countries to employ more intelligence and sustain patrol effort in the wake of the border reopening.
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