JTF Parades Six Pirates In PH

The Joint Military Taskforce also known as Operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta, has paraded six pirates arrested by the anti-piracy and illegal bunkering operation team in Ke and Pero Kparakama communities of Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State.

Parading the suspects before handing them over to the police for prosecution, the commanding officier of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Vinci Fadeyi said members of the anti-piracy and illegal bunkering operation also empounded four Cotonou boats used by the suspect for their illicit business.

Commodore Fadeyi disclosed that the team during its operation destroyed 51 illegal oil cooking points, all at Ke and Pero Kparakama communities.

He further stated that some weapons and a sum of N530,000 were among items recovered from the suspects during the operation that led to the arrest of the six sea pirates.

The Commodore, however, noted that the suspects were involved in sea piracy and kidnapping and called for the establishment of a special court to adjudicate over cases of arrested sea pirates and illegal bunkering activities in the Niger Delta and the country at large.

According to him, the establishment of such courts would fast track dispensation of justices, saying that it is high time for an improvement to be made on the laws of Nigeria.

He said prosecution of such suspects had been a major problem for the members of the anti-piracy and illegal bunkering operation team of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), stressing that prosecution and quick justice delivery would serve as a deterrent to others from indulging into the illegal business.

The NNS Pathfinder Commanding Officer assure that the team have in ensuring that there is no hiding place for these criminals and economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta and the country at large.

However, some of the suspects including the two women were claiming to be innocent of the crime before they were arrested.

The suspects have been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.