By Omotilewa Quadri
The Nigerian Navy has intercepted 130 vessels for crimes perpetrated in the maritime sector and other activities from January 2018 to February 2019.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday when he received the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hassan Bello, said the arrests were made following the recent enhancement of the navy’s surveillance capability.
Ibas also said that the Navy has 150 persons in custody in connection with maritime crimes.
Earlier in his address, Bello observed that one of the major challenges in the maritime sector was insecurity.
“We have received various complaints from the shipping companies, which have been forced to provide their own security to escort their vessels to the ports, especially the eastern ports. In spite of their efforts, between 2017 and 2018, there were 88 attacks in the Niger Delta,” he said.