The Nigerian Navy has confirmed the arrest of “MV Myre Seadiver'', a Russian vessel, on suspicion of carrying arms and ammunition at the Lagos roadstead.
Rear-Adm Ameen Ikioda, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, told newsmen in Lagos that the vessel was arrested on Saturday by naval patrol boats.
According to him, nine crew members of the vessel, mostly Russians, were arrested on board the ship which was flying Dutch Island flag and suspected to belong to the Moran group of Moscow.
The Nigerian Navy has confirmed the arrest of “MV Myre Seadiver'', a Russian vessel, on suspicion of carrying arms and ammunition at the Lagos roadstead.
Rear-Adm Ameen Ikioda, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, told newsmen in Lagos that the vessel was arrested on Saturday by naval patrol boats.
According to him, nine crew members of the vessel, mostly Russians, were arrested on board the ship which was flying Dutch Island flag and suspected to belong to the Moran group of Moscow.
Ikioda alleged that some of the arms recovered were assorted 14 AK 47 rifles with 3,643 ammunition; 22 barrel rifles, with 4,955 ammunition and an arm, called Benelli MR1, with 20 rifles.
“We discovered that the vessel came into our waters without due notification and has some weapons inside which is an infringement on the laws of Nigeria,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, has emphasised Navy’s commitment to eradicating illegal bunkering and oil theft.
Ezeoba, who was on two-day official visit to naval formations in Lagos, said the Naval High Command was ready to move the Nigerian Navy forward.
He said that the Navy would as from the next two weeks focus on areas such as infrastructure and capacity building.
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