The remains of Capt Romeo Itima; late managing director of Global West Vessel Specialist was laid to rest over the weekend at his home town in Gbaramatu, Delta State amidst wailing by family friends and relations of the late master mariner.
Late Capt Itima was killed about one month ago by suspected oil thieves who opened fire on the boat in which he and some officials of his company and those of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were traveling at the usually tempestuous Escravos in Delta state.
The remains of Capt Romeo Itima; late managing director of Global West Vessel Specialist was laid to rest over the weekend at his home town in Gbaramatu, Delta State amidst wailing by family friends and relations of the late master mariner.
Late Capt Itima was killed about one month ago by suspected oil thieves who opened fire on the boat in which he and some officials of his company and those of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were traveling at the usually tempestuous Escravos in Delta state.
Sources at the burial which held from last Friday till Saturday told our correspondent that it was kicked-off with all-night traditional rites for the late master mariner.
Shipping Position Daily recalls Capt Itima was the only one that died in the attack.
Ironically, the ill-fated boat in which the Global West chief executive and the NIMASA maritime security personnel were attacked was one of those that were given to the agency by Global West at a recent ceremony in Lagos.
The boat was waylaid at the Escravos, apparently by those who may have identified the ship as being inimical to their interests.
The pirates reportedly opened fire on Capt Itima’s crew and because the patrol boat was not fitted with guns, it was easy to over- power it.
The deceased master mariner did not die from any gunshots and that he drowned.
Shipping Position Daily had reported through a source that: “The wave was heavy, while the tide was also high, the NIMASA boat was thrown off balance by the wave and the Capt who probably didn’t wear a life jacket was thrown over board”.
The burial was attended by top officials of NIMASA as well as members of board of Global West Vessels Specialist and hundreds of sympathisers.
Shipping Position Daily also recalls that NIMASA had about three weeks ago paraded the suspected killers of the Captain.
The suspects were reportedly arrested in Lagos aboard an oil vessel; MT Ocean Treasure around the Kirikiri area of Lagos. The vessel was loaded with 300metric tonnes of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) which was confirmed to have been loaded at Akassa in Bayelsa State.
While parading the suspected pirates in Lagos , the image maker of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka had alleged that the pirates aboard MT Ocean Treasure fired at Capt. Itima’s crew on board NIMASA patrol boat NIMASA Burutu, even as she said that the captain of the arrested vessel is still at large.
She said that the NIMASA crew of seven men and its security were on a routine patrol and also checking papers of vessels around the Escravos area for legitimacy, but added that the crew surprisingly drew fire from the bunker barge as they try to approach it for identification, this prompted a gun duel and a chase.
Tumaka had further explained that after the chase which led to Capt. Itima’s death, the agency had embarked on an investigation and that it had been monitoring the activities of the vessel until it finally got to Lagos.
“It was in the course of ongoing investigation and patrols that men of the maritime guard command detained MT Treasure around Kirikiri area on Saturday 11th August and arrested all the crew members whom you are seeing today”, she disclosed.
According to her, the vessel had come to Lagos to discharge its products unknown to them that they were being trailed.
Names of the suspect could not be made public, because their lawyer vehemently refused, but the NIMASA spokesperson however said that the suspects have been identified by the crew on board.
Also speaking at the event, the Commander of the maritime guard command, Capt. Promise Dappa had explained that the suspects were being held at the western naval command and that they will be handed over to the appropriate authorities.
“NIMASA cannot detain people, we don’t even have the detention facility, so after this, they will be handed over to the relevant security agencies and they will continue with the investigation, they were kept in protective custody at the naval base over the weekend when the vessel was arrested”.
He explained that no ammunition was found on the suspects because there was a speedboat attached to the barge when the shooting started, “when they came to Lagos the speedboat was not there, we don’t know if they have discharged them or maybe the boat was escorting them and it quickly disappeared after the shooting” Capt Dappa said.
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