Findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that the Western Port Authority Police Command, through its Criminal Investigation Department (CID), recorded a total of 17 criminal cases, 32 arrests, and property losses valued at over N128 million between January and February 2025. This is even as it successfully recovered stolen properties valued at over N11 million during the same period.
According to statistics obtained from the Command’s Spokesman; Isaac Hundeyin, the Ports Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Western Command in January 2025, recorded eight cases, with 14 suspects arrested in connection with various offences. Of these cases, four were charged to court, while three were transferred to other relevant authorities. Two suspects were transferred during the month, and 12 remained in custody awaiting trial.
There were no convictions recorded during the period, and four of the cases were still under investigation by the end of the January. The total value of properties reported stolen or lost was N117,857,863, while the value of recovered items stood at N11 million.
Notably, there were no casualties linked to any of the incidents, and all court proceedings experienced delays attributed solely to the court itself, with no adjournments caused by either Police prosecutors or defense counsel.
According to the report, in February 2025, the department witnessed a slight increase in reported cases, with a total of nine incidents and the arrest of 18 suspects. Out of these, five cases were charged to court and three were transferred. 11 suspects were moved to other authorities, while 10 remained in detention awaiting trial.
February also marked the first conviction of the year, as one suspect was successfully prosecuted. As with January, four cases remained under investigation. The value of stolen or lost properties for the month was significantly lower at N10,140,000, but the value of recovered items was also considerably less, amounting to just N50,000. Again, no casualties were recorded, and all court-related delays were due to the court system, not the investigating officers or defense representatives.
Altogether, the crime records for January and February show a troubling figure of N128,997,863 in total losses, due to criminal activities within the port environment, while the combined value of recovered properties over the two months amounted to N11,050,000.
The 32 arrests according to the Command reflect its ongoing efforts to tackle criminal offences at the ports, but the low rate of convictions and poor recovery figures point to persistent challenges in enforcement, prosecution, and recovery processes.
The Ports CID noted that it has submitted the comprehensive reports and attached crime statistics forms to relevant authorities for further review and necessary action.
The Western Port Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to upholding security within port operations and enhancing the prosecution of criminal cases to ensure justice is served.
