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By Philip Nwosu
The Nigerian Navy said its operatives recently intercepted 563 parcels of Marijuana at Ibeju Lekki and Badagry, respectively, with a combined weight of about 35,420kg and estimated to be worth about N1 billion.
The force also said it intercepted over 25 large wooden boats laden with foreign rice and petroleum products, which were handed over to the respective prosecuting agencies.
Speaking during a farewell parade organised in his honour, the outgoing Commander of NNS BEECROFT, Rear Admiral Abdulrasheed Haruna, said over 2,700 bags of foreign rice were also arrested and handed over to the Nigerian Customs Service for further action.
He said the impounding of the foreign rice was in compliance and enforcement of the Federal Governments’ ban on importation of rice, adding that the proactive efforts of the Base, through these operations, have assisted significantly in curtailing criminal activities in Lagos and environs.
Admiral Haruna, who had been posted to the Naval Headquarters, said as part of the force’s constabulary roles, NNS BEECROFT responded to several SOS messages from mariners during the period under review, adding that the force recovered 32 stowaways from different ships, which were handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service.
The outgoing commander said 10 out of 12 crew members were successfully rescued from a capsized fishing trawler OLOKUN 12, which collided with a merchant vessel, MSC CORUNA, within the Lagos channel.
He said: “Furthermore, the Base successfully evacuated six accident victims who sustained fatal injuries while working onboard MT HALIMA within the Lagos anchorage late in the night.
“These efforts ranging from provision of armed escorts, quick responses to maritime crimes and saving of lives in maritime environs, have continued to project the Base positively, both within the Navy and beyond. They equally provide re-assurance of the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to the safety of mariners, under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff.”
He said he worked along the vision and mission of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, Strategic Directive 05 – 2021, while focusing on the Western Naval Command key operational priorities. Admiral Haruna said the move was to ensure that the decision of Command and actions were in line with the Nigerian Navy Pillars of Transformation.
Also, the new Commander of the NNS Beecroft Commodore, K. Oguntuga, has warned criminals within the waterways and within the vicinity of the naval base to begin to relocate, promising that he will give them a tough time.
He said a lot has been achieved under the leadership of CNS, Vice Admiral Gambo, and that he will be guided by the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, in order to ensure that the waterways are rid of maritime crimes.
