Nigerian Rear Admiral Points to Tarkwa-Bay As Pirate Hideout Location; Residents Evicted From Area

January 28: Rear Admiral Oladele Daji, the Commander of Operation Awatse, says Tarkwa-bay is a hideout for pirates and officially it is a non-residential area.

While addressing concerns over the eviction of Tarkwa-bay residents, Daji described this as a clearance operation code-named Operation Kuronbe (Yoruba word meaning Leave There). He described the eviction as impressive, stressing that “no casualty has been recorded as opposed to the information on social media.” He added that the clearance operation was needed because Tarkwa-Bay has turned to a hideout for sea robbers and pirates who freely operate due to lack of security presence in the area.

“If you look at the geography of Tarkwa Bay, it is located by the South West of the two major ports that we have in Lagos – the Tin Can Island Port and Apapa Port Complex.

“This area is open to the sea and also at the entrance of Lagos harbour. It is a very strategic port area in which criminals have taken advantage of the lack of (security) presence to perpetrate all sorts of activities.

“Also most of the (people behind) incidents of sea robbery and piracy along the waterways hide in Tarkwa Bay,” he said.

Daji who is also the FOC, Western Naval Command added that militants hide in Tarkwa-Bay before unleashing mayhem.

According to him, the area is officially non-residential, hence the need for the clearance operation.

“Just a few years ago, the militants who burnt the jetty through which vessels deliver products into NNPC facility at Atlas cove hibernated in Tarkwa-Bay before carrying out that dastardly act.

“Tarkwa Bay is non-residential, either by the Lagos State laws or physical planning or by the NPA which is holding the place in trust for the Federal Government is non-residential.”

Thousands were rendered homeless following the recent eviction of Tarkwa Bay residents. This led to an outcry on social media.

Source: Channels TV / Ronke Idowu