By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
The effectiveness of the new Anti Piracy Law of the Federal Government will be put to test with the trial of 10 suspected pirates arrested recently by the Nigera Navy operatives, the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The suspects would be the first set of bandits arrested in international waters to be prosecuted under the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act signed into law in June last year by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The law made Nigeria the first in West and Central Africa to have a distinct antipiracy legislation.
Spokesperson of the Agency Philip Kyanet disclosed on Tuesday in a statement that the suspects have been handed over to NIMASA for prosecution.
According to the statement, the suspects were arrested inward Nigerian waterways by the Naval personnel following a tip off when they attacked and boarded a Chinese vessel MV HALUFANG II, off the coast of Cote d’Ivoire and directed it towards Nigeria waterways.
The statement read that ” 10 pirates had on May 15 attacked and boarded a Chinese vessel, MV HAILUFANG II, off the coast of Côte d’Ivoire and directed it towards Nigerian waters.
They were arrested by the Nigerian Navy, which dispatched a ship to intercept the vessel after it got an alert.
During the official handover of pirates arrested by the Nigerian Navy for prosecution, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said that the prosecution of the pirates would be the first trial of bandits arrested in international waters under the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act signed into law in June last year by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The law made Nigeria the first in West and Central Africa to have a distinct antipiracy legislation.
Jamoh attributed the successful operation that led to the arrest of the pirates and rescue of the ship and its crew to collaboration between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy.
He said the Agency will continue to work with relevant security agencies in order to achieve its goal of eradicating piracy and all forms of illegality on the Nigerian waters.
The Director-General stated, “We have just witnessed the handover of pirates. This is as a result of the robust collaboration between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy.
There has been a lot of synergy between NIMASA and the Navy with regard to the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act.
“I also want to seize the opportunity to thank Mr. President for signing the anti-piracy law, which would facilitate sufficient prosecution of these pirates.”
Jamoh, who was represented by the Agency’s Head of Legal Services, Mr. Victor Egejuru, assured that with the anti-piracy law, there was ample legal framework to prosecute pirates and other perpetrators of maritime offences in the country to bring the menace to the barest minimum.
Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Ibrahim Shettima, who gave details of the Naval operation, said the vessel had 18 crew members comprising Chinese, Ghanaians, and Ivoirians.
Shettima said, “On interception of the vessel about 140nm south of Lagos Fairway Buoy, the pirates had refused to comply with the orders of the Navy ship, hence the Nigerian Navy had to conduct an opposed boarding of the vessel. All ship crew were safely rescued, while the 10 pirates were also arrested.”
He stressed the need for increased regional cooperation and information sharing, disclosing that the arrest of the pirates was due to a tip-off by the Beninoise Navy.
Shettima warned criminal elements to stay away from Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea, saying the Navy has the capability to deal with such threats.
Jamoh has said the current management of NIMASA will focus on three main areas, namely, Maritime Security, Safety, and Shipping Development, in pursuit of a robust maritime domain for the country.”
