(P248 – a 17 metre Manta Mk.II ASD Littoral Interceptor of the Nigerian Navy)
VANGUARD
January 7, 2013
By EVELYN USMAN
Lagos
Twenty-two vessels have been arrested by the Nigerian Navy for various actS of illegality, ranging from oil bunkering and illegal entry into the nation’s waters within the last 12 months.
Among the ships arrested were:MT Onne, MT B Cupid, M Barge, MT Ortkoyi, MV Chijioke, MT I Hinosen, Tug Boat Alk, MT Ezi, MT Rockfish, MT Aegle and MV God Time. Others are MV ATHS MILANDROS, BARGE PRINCESS SOPHIE, MT ST VANESSA, MT INA and MT PEYOR. Also arrested were: a wooden boat, Light II, a wooden tugboat, Oyah II and Tug Boat, Ramat II, among others.
One of the ships, MV Myre Seadivers,
arrested by the Western Naval Command in October 2012 was discovered during search to be carrying assorted arms. Its 15-man crew members,all Russians, according to spokesman for the Western Naval Command, Lieutenant Commander Jerry
Omodara, would be handed over to the Police for prosecution.
What is it with these Russian AND GUN RUNNING?
They were NOT gun running, The individuals on board were clearly members of a private security company. There were less than 20 firearms onboard the vesse. The story was blown out of proportion by the typical inept reporting from the media.
Then they were supposed to report to the N..N upon entering into Nigerian territorial waters that they have armed men aboard their ships based on international law if you don’t do that the ship is considered to be harboring pirates.