The Merchant Navy Directorate has faulted last week’s arrest of 10 alleged sea pirates comprising of three Greeks, two Americans and five blacks, saying that the Nigerian Navy only gave sensational news to the media, and ‘shamefully’ displayed pictures of humiliated foreign security experts, claiming they are pirates.
In a chat with Shipping Position Daily a director at the Merchant Navy Directorate, Engr James Falabi who gave a fresh account of the event said that the four foreigners were trained Anti Pirate Security Service (APASS) personnel on MV Mearsk Cabanda.
He said the experts disembarked with all their concealed arms to a Nigerian registered service boat MV "Angel 3" at 20knot to Fairway Bouy, in compliance with the Nigerian 'legal restriction on arms', on Friday (12/4/19.)
"Two Nigerian APASS (certified Merchant Navy officers) boarded the MV ' Mearsk Cabinda' to replace the foreigners while the ship proceeded to Apapa port"
"On Sunday (14/4/19) the Nigerian Navy on patrol apprehended, boarded the vessel MV Angel 3, brought the vessel, crew and the four foreigners to the Navy base, claiming they are Pirates"
"On Monday (15/4/19) Nigerian Navy gave sensational News to the media, shamefully displaying pictures of humiliated foreign security experts, claiming they are Pirates"
"On Tuesday, the Nigerian Navy came on board container vessel MV Maersk Cabinda at berth 3, of Tin Can island port and invited one of the Nigerian APASS for interrogation " he said
Capt Falabi said the case has now been handed over to the Alagbon division of Nigerian Police, describing it as a smart move by Nigerian Navy to absolve them of all claims resulting from their alleged injustice.
Continuing, the merchant navy official said: "The United Nations Convention on the Law Of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the preamble states that the convention is prompted by the desire to settle in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation on all issues relating to the law of the sea. The section 2 states the limit of any Nation’s Territorial Sea as 12 Nautical Miles"
"If now a vessel is at 20 Nautical miles, the Nigerian Navy is supposed to apply caution before going to the media. They are not politicians for crying out loud"
Falabi said if the Nigerian Navy wants to claim Exclusive Economy Zone (EEZ) as part of Territorial Sea, the section 16 of UNCLOS Law on the "The Right of Innocent Passage" is applicable to the case of MV Angel 3.
He said that the foreigners whose characters have been defamed would not accept apology without compensation, leading to another waste of tax payers income caused by Nigerian Navy's incompetent.
Recall that the alleged pirates were arrested in a joint operation by the Nigerian Navy and United States Coast Guard.
The suspects met their waterloo after their vessel was stopped by the operatives of the Operation Junction Rain.
Four military assault rifles (Bernelli MR-1) loaded with magazines, about 1,000 live ammunition in a box and other hidden exhibits including various communication gadgets were recovered from the pirates.
Announcing the arrest, Commodore Dickson Olisemenogor, who is the operation’s officer in tactical command, said the suspects have been placed under thorough investigation and more information would be gathered.
Discussion about this post