The Nigerian Navy has said its personnel arrested seven suspected impostors parading as Naval security personnel in Port Harcourt.
The Base Operations Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Cdr. Murtala Rogo, said this on Friday when handing over the suspects to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in Onne.
He said the suspects were on board a ‘rogue vessel’, MV Workhorse before they were intercepted while escorting an oil tanker, MV Osamewe to an undisclosed location without a permit.
“In line with the Nigerian Navy policing role on the maritime domain, on Sept. 6, we got tip-off of a vessel carrying out illegal escort duty for an oil tanker.
“Based on this intelligence, we deployed NNS Pathfinder patrol gunboats to Bonny Anchorage to make the arrest. On reaching there, our patrol elements arrested seven crew members on board MV Workhorse for providing illegal armed escort to an oil tanker, MV Osamewe.
“The suspects could not provide the appropriate permit to operate as a private maritime logistic support security vessel at the time of arrest,” he said.
