Navy arrests sea pirates, razes militants’ camps, destroys illegal refineries in Bayelsa

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Iba’s annual sea inspection operation tagged “Exercise Eagle Eye” and Special Forces of the Nigerian Navy in Bayelsa State have arrested some sea pirates, razed some militants’ camps and destroyed several illegal refineries that dot the creek of the state.

The operation was carried out between Thursday and Saturday by a team of the Chief of Naval Staff.

While the operation lasted, the Special Forces in synergy with men of the NNS SOROH, Yenagoa and the Forward Operation Base, Formoso, Brass, arrested many sea robbers, razed some militants’ camps and destroyed illegal refineries in the state.

In one of the operations carried out by 2:00 a.m. on Friday, four suspected sea robbers said to be terrorising traders and residents of some riverine communities in Bayelsa were apprehended.

The suspects, who were paraded at the jetty of the FOB Formoso, confessed to being behind some attacks on traders and residents of Brass area of the state and its environs.

The suspects gave their names as Lucky Abraham, Enatimi Peter, Gift Monday and Felix Nathan and alleged that they were working for one militant, simply identified as Thomas.

Explaining the exercise, the Commander, NNS SOROH, Commodore Habib Usman, who led the CNS team in the state, said the Exercise Eagle Eye was the annual sea inspection operation by the Chief of Naval Staff.

The sea robbers were said to have been terrorising the waterways by dispossessing traders of their goods and monies, an act which had gone on for a long time before luck ran out on them on Friday.

The suspects were apprehended at Masunkiri, some kilometres away from FOB Formoso, in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa following a tip-off, and weapons recovered included one Pump Action rifle, one AK-47 rifle, radio walkie talkie and 115 horse power outboard engine.

Explaining the exercise, the Commander, Nigerian Naval Ship, Soroh, Commodore Habib Usman, who led the CNS team in the state, said the Exercise Eagle Eye was the annual sea inspection operation by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas.

He said the exercise was aimed at enhancing maritime security.