*Warns unauthorized maritime outfits to disband

By Joseph Erunke

ABUJA-THE combined efforts of the Nigerian Navy and other security outfits to ensure that people posing as naval personnel with a view to dupping, harassing or intimidating unsuspected members of the public, were apprehended and brought to book have paid off as a man who posed as a naval commodore, has been arrested at the premises of the National Assembly.

The man, who was identified as Mr Benson Edema, at the time of his arrest last Friday, was dressed in the uniform and accoutrement of a naval commodore, (equivalent to a Brigadier General) within the precinct of the National Assembly, Abuja.

The fake naval commodore, who was arrested along side another suspect also dressed up in naval uniform, is alleged to be the arrow head of a fake maritime security organisation that goes by the name ‘Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps’, which has since been proscribed by the Nigerian Navy.

The development came just as another six persons were arrested by operatives of the Forward Operating Base, FOB, Badagry on November 15,also last week, for impersonating as personnel of the Nigerian Navy.

The suspects, who were dressed in naval uniform with rank badges of the Nigerian Navy, claimed to be members of another proscribed Maritime security organisation called Nigerian Merchant Marine.

The suspects were arrested at Dadi Village in Badagry LGA of Lagos State.

The above mentioned arrests have added to several cases in which operatives of Nigerian Navy and sister security agencies have acted swiftly in apprehending impostors.

To this end, the Nigerian Navy has advised the general public to kindly report suspicious behaviour of anyone or group of persons who claim to be personnel of the Nigerian Navy or found to be dressed in naval uniform and accoutrement.

A statement from the Director of Information of the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, yesterday, announcing the arrest, said operatives of the Nigerian Navy in conjunction with other security agencies have maintained red alert vigilance to ensure that the naval impostors are promptly apprehended.

The statement added that the Nigerian Navy, NN, has began massive crackdown on impostors who are using naval uniforms and accoutrements to deceive, harass, intimidate and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

“The mandate to ensure that any impostor does not go scot-free emanates from the fact that several cases of security breaches and criminal activities involving fake naval personnel have been reported by victims of these unauthorized and largely proscribed maritime outfits namely; Nigerian Merchant Marine, Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps, Global College of Marine and Technology, Merchant Navy Maritime Academy as well as Nigeria Merchant Navy and Maritime Law Enforcement Agency among others.

“In view of the fragile security situation in the country, particularly in the Niger Delta area, the activities of these illegal and proscribed maritime security organisations has posed great danger to the frantic efforts by the Nigerian Navy and sister security services to mitigate the security challenges in the country.

“The Nigerian Navy hereby resolves to deal decisibly with anyone who might be contemplating to test the will of the service in checkmating activities of criminal gangs and impostors in the maritime domain,” the Nigerian Navy said.