The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom State, said it has arrested 10 suspected smugglers with 956 bags of rice weighing 50kg each.
The Commanding Officer, FOB, Captain Peter Yilme disclosed this on Monday in Ibaka while briefing journalists.
He said the suspects were arrested during three different operations by Navy patrol gunboats on the 15th, 23rd and 25th February 2020 with 165, 707 and 84 bags of rice respectively.
Yilme, who warned smugglers to desist from their illegal trade, said the Navy would not rest on its oars until the trade and its sponsors were dealt with.
Represented by the Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Kabiru Yusuf, Yilme vowed that as long as the smugglers persisted on their illegal activities on the waterways, the base would not continue its patrol to make sure they were arrested.
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Handing over the suspects and items to Superintendent Dauda Abubakar of the Nigeria Customs Service, Yusuf said; “On behalf of the Commanding Officer, Captain Peter Yilme, I, Lieutenant Commander K. Yusuf hand over ten suspects with 956 bags of 50kg rice to the Nigeria Customs Service.
“Navy patrol gunboats on 15th February 2020, arrested 165 bags of rice and 4 suspects, on 23rd February, 707 bags of rice and 3 suspects were arrested, while on 25th February, 84 bags of rice and 3 suspects were arrested.
“The 165 bags of rice and suspects were apprehended on Ikang water ways, the 707 bags of rice and suspects were seized offshore Agbani, while the 84 bags of rice and suspects were arrested along the Unyenge creek,” he stated.
