The Nigerian Navy has arrested two suspects during a raid on a pirates’ and kidnappers’ camp in Fununu community, Brass, Bayelsa State.
The operation, part of the Navy’s “Delta Sanity II” efforts to clear Nigeria’s maritime space of criminals, took place on Saturday.
According to Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information, the raid followed several arrests since the operation began on December 30.
“In this instance, the suspected pirates and kidnappers, who used the camp as a hideout, engaged Navy personnel in a gun battle lasting over 30 minutes. They eventually succumbed to the Navy team’s superior firepower,” Adams-Aliu stated.
He revealed that many criminals escaped with gunshot wounds, but two suspects, a man and a woman, were apprehended.
During the raid, the Navy recovered an AK-56 assault rifle, three locally made guns, five pump-action guns, a foreign double-barrel gun, 68 rounds of 7.62/39mm ammunition, six rounds of 7.62/51mm NATO ammunition, 25 shotgun cartridges, and four empty AK rifle magazines. Other recovered items included a national ID card, debit cards, mobile phones, N11,500 in cash, a chainsaw engine, a chainsaw machine, and a hand saw.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, commended the operatives and reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to eradicating maritime crime in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian Navy will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety of Nigeria’s waterways and protect the nation’s maritime assets,” Ogalla stated.
