The Nigerian Navy has said it recorded another victory in its fight against maritime crimes with the successful raid of a pirate and kidnapper camp in the Fununu community, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The operation, carried out under the auspices of Operation DELTA SANITY II, took place on Saturday, January 11, 2025, and resulted in the arrest of two suspects, a male and a female, while several others fled with gunshot injuries.
The raid Navy said comes on the heels of the December 30, 2024, launch of Operation DELTA SANITY II by the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, in Rivers State. The operation it said aims to rid Nigeria’s maritime domain of criminal elements threatening the region’s security and economic stability.
According to reports, the Navy team faced fierce resistance from the suspects, who engaged them in a gun battle that lasted over 30 minutes.
The Navy said the superior firepower of the Navy eventually overwhelmed the criminals, forcing many to flee the scene. Items recovered during the operation include an AK-56 assault rifle, three locally fabricated guns, five pump-action guns, a foreign double-barrel gun, and various ammunition, including 68 rounds of 7.62/39mm bullets and six rounds of 7.62/51mm NATO ammunition.
Other items seized include 25 shotgun cartridges, four empty AK rifle magazines, mobile phones, SIM cards, a national ID card, N11,500 in cash, and tools such as chainsaws and hand saws believed to be used in illegal logging activities.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to ensuring safety in Nigeria’s waterways. He stated that the Navy would continue to intensify its operations to eliminate criminal activities threatening the country’s maritime domain.
The raid underscores the success of Operation DELTA SANITY II in disrupting the activities of criminal networks in the Niger Delta region. Since its launch, the operation has led to multiple arrests and the seizure of various assets linked to illegal activities.
Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information, called on the public to remain vigilant and support the Navy’s efforts by reporting suspicious activities. He reiterated the Navy’s determination to restore order and security to Nigeria’s maritime environment, a critical asset for the nation’s economic growth.
