Yousouph Joshua
The Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) has called on the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to stop harassing and intimidating members of the association. This is even as the association stressed that its operations are legal and backed up by law.
Shipping Position Daily recalls the Lagos State Police Command had earlier announced the arrest of 108 Merchant Navy personnel over alleged operation of an illegal military training camp. According to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police; Hakeem Odumosu the command got intelligence report about an illegal military training camp, code named ‘Nigeria Marchant Navy’ at Ogudu Ori-Oke area of Kosofe Local Government Area.
But, while addressing journalists on Friday at the association’s headquarters in Lagos, the National Secretary General of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA); Captain John Okpono noted that its members are finding it hard to be given the recognition that they deserve, even as he added that men of Nigerian Police are taking advantage of the Commissioner’s pronouncement to molest, extort and harass members of the association.
Okpono however stressed that the illegal merchant navy officers who were apprehended by the Police are not members of association and have no connection with the association. He called on the Nigerian Police to call its men to order and not generalise such illegal image, thereby jeopardising the reputation of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association.
“Amongst the issues that crossed over to 2022 as far has seafaring is concerned is the issue of disbandment and prohibition between the Officers of the Nigerian Merchant Navy and the Nigerian Police precisely in Lagos. For other states we don’t have issues. We are only faced with this in two states, Lagos and Ogun which was the aftermath of the arrested of the groups carried away with the Bili coming in at the National Assembly. This led to the general statement of the Commissioner of Police stating that the Nigeria Merchant Navy is illegal.
“None of those arrested said they belong to this body or association. They only said their Act has passed a second reading and they have the right to operate. But because they mentioned the name Merchant Navy, the Police men have been harassing our members. That is why we are informing the Nigerian Police not to generalise. Nigerian Merchant Navy is not to face the music, but those who are found unworthy either by impersonation or illegal practices should face the music.
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He alleged that: “Some Police stations have taken advantage of that by molesting, extorting and harassing our members. We want to inform the Nigeria Police officers and the general public of what the Nigeria Merchant Navy is as a profession, career or discipline. It is one of those disciplines that have an international global outlook”.
“The Nigerian Police should retrace their steps and not generalise. We want to appeal and educate the Police and the general public that the Nigerian Merchant Navy is the name given to persons who work on board vessels within coastal and international waters. They cannot be proscribed by any law or disbanded by any authority. It is a discipline. We are legitimate and go on our daily business and it is global”, he added.
The Secretary General said the association has written to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, disclaiming the illegal persons arrested and at the same time to seek for audience but the Commissioner has refused to acknowledge the receipt of the letter or grant the association audience.
He disclosed that one of the association’s members was arrested this week and is currently in Police Custody.
“Most often, we get phone calls. Even as I speak, we had a phone call yesterday that one of us was apprehended by RRS for claiming to be a member of the Nigerian Merchant Navy and was taken to Panti (Police station). We have sent a letter or introduction but that member has not been released as we speak. We are watching and we are not happy with the embarrassment and the intimidation they are giving to our members”, he lamented.
“We had initially sent a letter to the Commissioner of Police disclaiming those illegal persons arrested and at the same time seeking for audience. He has neither acknowledged receipt nor granted us audience. What we intend is to send a letter to the IGP before the month runs out.
“We are not in support of the fake ones. We support the total clamp down on them. We are not saying the Police should not do their job but do it diligently by going extra miles to find out and investigate the fake ones especially those who don’t possess COC, attended any maritime institutions, or working with us. When they are apprehended, the law should take its cause. But we frown at generalising the notion of painting the image of the Nigerian Merchant Navy to be bad or illegal” Okpono said.
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