Navy Hands Seized Vessel to Interpol

Ship suspected of piracy involvement handed over to law enforcement.

Navy Arrests, Hands over Seized Vessel to Interpol

Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Ibusa, yesterday handed over a seized vessel, MT Itiri, it arrested for maritime illegalities to the International Police of the Nigerian Police Force.

Confirming the handover, the Commanding Officer, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Ovenseri Uwadaie, said the vessel was arrested at the Lagos road stead in connection with a hijack incidence off Pennington Terminal in the nation’s waterways.

The navy alleged that the vessel was involved in a case of hijack of another vessel, and after it was arrested, investigations began to unravel the truth.

Uwadiae said: “Consequently, NNS Beecroft was directed to take custody of the vessel and after preliminary investigation, Naval Headquarters directed that the vessel be handed over to the INTERPOL Department of the Nigerian Police for further investigations.
“The Nigerian Navy, under the leadership of the current Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, has zero tolerance for illegalities in Nigerian waters.

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Source: thisdaylive.com

MSR:
We believe the vessel referred to in the article is actually the MT Itri, which itself was hijacked  off the Ivory Coast in January 2013. The ship was then detained this year in connection with the hijacking of the MT Kerala for allegedly receiving stolen fuel from the Kerala.