Last Monday the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) paraded 10 persons suspected to be the alleged killers of the Managing Director of Global West Vessel Specialist (GWVS), Capt. Romeo Itima, who allegedly died in an encounter with suspected oil thieves at Escravos Forcados area of Delta State, while on patrol two weeks ago.
GWVS is the company to which the nation’s maritime security domain was concession to by the Federal Government through NIMASA.
The arrest came barely 10 days after Itima was allegedly murdered onboard NIMASA BURUTU, one of the new patrol boats delivered to NIMASA by the GWVS as part of the concession agreement to provide platforms for the patrol of the nation’s waters.
It is commendable if truly the suspects are the killers of the late GWVS boss, for NIMASA to have made these arrests within such a very short time.
The alleged culprits, NIMASA told the media were arrested somewhere in Kirikiri, Lagos for an offence said to have been committed in Escravos Forcados area of Delta state.
Yes, it is impressive that the suspects have been arrested, but NIMASA must prove its case beyond all reasonable doubts that the suspects are the killers of Itima.
NIMASA must pursue the case to a logical conclusion, so that the matter does end like some cases in Nigeria where arrests are made for an offence and nothing is heard thereafter.
Pursing the case to a logical conclusion will further attest to the viability of NIMASA’s enforcement mandate and its contract with the GWVS that was previously trailed by controversies.
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