The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi yesterday told visiting members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport how it averted another ship hijack and arrested 15 suspected pirates with arms and ammunition in the process.
The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi yesterday told visiting members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport how it averted another ship hijack and arrested 15 suspected pirates with arms and ammunition in the process.
The NIMASA DG told the law makers that the hijack was planned to have taken place off the coast of Cotonou in the Republic of Benin, adding that the agency's activities in the war against piracy led to foiling the hijack and arrest of the suspects, even as he lamented the indiscriminate release of arrested pirates.
“The continuous release of suspected pirates is frustrating our fight against pirate attack on vessels”.
Akpobolokemi noted that the extension of its anti-piracy operation in Benin Republic based on the request of the President of Benin Republic to the Nigerian government, the agency was directed by President Good Luck Jonathan to extend its operation to Benin waters.
He stated that the operations of NIMASA has assisted in curbing the menace of piracy and armed robbery at sea and bother related vices within the Benin Republic waters and its neighbouring states of Nigeria, Togo and by extension Ghana.
On the release of arrested pirates, Akpobolokemi said that each time these suspects are arrested and handed over to the prosecuting agencies , they soon got themselves off the hook.
Akpobolokemi stated that some suspected pirates have been arrested more than twice thereby making nonsense of the agency's moves to reduce or eliminate the menace of pirates on the nation's waters.
In a report he presented before members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, the agency boss stated that NIMASA can only make arrest and hand over to the Police or State Security Service or any other prosecuting agency.
He however urged the Committee to assist the agency in talking to other sister agencies involved in the prosecution of suspects so as stamp out piracy from Nigeria and possibly the entire West African coast.
He specifically warmed that if piracy is is not tackled to a logical conclusion it will lead to high cost of freight of cargoes, thereby bringing an increase in the cost of goods and services.
The agency boss also disclosed that in the last the nine months, NIMASA has arrested vessels involved in illegal ship to ship transfer of products, unauthorized midstream discharge, illegal bunkering and outright oil theft.
He explained that since NIMASA started the war against piracy, there has been a steady decline in the cases of piracy and armed robbery at sea in Nigerian waters.
He said that in 2010 about 108 cases were reported as against 33 cases in 2011 and 20 cases reported as at September of this year
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