The bandits numbering 16 were said to have hijacked an oil vessel, MT
NORTE, loaded with 17,000 metric tonnes of Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS),
off Nigerian waters in the Gulf of Guinea.
Four of them were, however, captured alive in a coordinated operation that involved the three naval commands and the air force.
The leader of the gang identified as Ben were said to have been killed in the gun duel that lasted for over 30 minutes.
Operatives of the navy were said to have been on the trail of the
pirates and the hijacked ship for about four days before carrying out
the operation.
Immediately the ship was stolen, it was learnt that signals were sent
to the Presidency which alerted the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral
Dele Ezeoba.
Ezeoba was said to have swiftly informed all the commands and ordered them to rescue the vessel and arrest the suspects.
The ship which was carrying imported fuel was said to be on a voyage to the Lagos harbour when the bandits took control of her.
The Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral I.E
Ibas, was said to have first dispatched two vessels, NNS ANDONI and NNS
IKOT ABAS to pursue the pirates.
To ensure a more coordinated response, the Flag Officer Commanding,
Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Usman, was said to have
ordered NNS Delta in Warri, Delta State, and the Forward Operation Base
FORMOSO at Egweama Brass, to dispatch more vessels.
Usman confirmed the incident and said one of the gunboats involved in the rescue was riddled with bullets.
He said FOB FORMOSO dispatched two of its three recently acquired
OCEA boats, NNS BADAGRY and NNS BOMADI to the scene while NNS Delta
ordered NNS OBULA to relocate to the area to join the rescue.
He said eight naval vessels encircled the hijacked ship and the pirates.
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