by Mayowa Aboah

The Nigerian Navy ship, NNS Ibusa, has arrested a vessel named MT Itiri in Lagos waters. The arrest is in connection with a hijack incident off Pennington Terminal in the nation’s waters in January 2014.

It was alleged that MT Itiri, a merchant vessel was involved in the hijacking.

Spokesperson of the NNS Beecroft, Sub Lieutenant Priscillia Iyoriovbe, said that the vessel has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Interpol Department.

“NNS Beecroft was directed to take custody of the vessel. After a preliminary investigation, Naval Headquarters directed that the vessel be handed over to the INTERPOL Department of the Nigerian Police for further investigations,” she said.

“The Nigerian Navy, under the leadership of the current CNS, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, has zero tolerance for illegalities in Nigerian waters. The Nigerian Navy, therefore, reiterates its drive to make our water-ways safe for legitimate businesses to thrive. Consequently, the NN is using this medium to warn sea pirates and criminal elements in the nation’s waters to desist from nefarious activities or face the consequences as there will be no hiding place for such elements,” Iyoriovbe concluded.

Sola