Navy arrests 24 suspects, seizes 1,831 bags of rice

The Nigerian Navy in Akwa Ibom State, has arrested 24 suspected smugglers and seized 1,831 bags of smuggled rice.

Speaking yesterday in Ibaka, the Commanding Officer, FOB, Captain Peter Yilme said five wooden boats used in smuggling the 50kg bags of rice from the Republic of Cameroon were also seized.

He said the arrests were made in four different operations by Navy officers and men on routine patrol in their gunboats.

He stated that on November 27, four suspects were arrested with 294 bags of rice in a boat while on December 5, eight suspects were arrested in a boat with 87 bags of rice.

He added that on December 8, seven suspects were arrested in two boats with 1,270 bags of rice while on December 11, eight suspects were nabbed in a boat with 172 bags of rice.

While handing over the suspects and items to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Yilme who was represented by the Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Kabiru Yusuf, said the command would remain steadfast in fighting illegalities on the waterways in line with the directive of the Chief of Naval Staff

Two of the suspects, who were drivers on the boats, said they were not told that they were to carry rice from Cameroon to Nigeria.

One of the suspects, Etim Edet, a boat worker from Adadia in Uruan Local Government Area of the state, said he was told that he was going to bring in fish from Cameroon.

Edet, who said he is married with six children, explained that it was when the rice was loaded into the boat that he realised he was to carry rice and not fish as he was told.

Another suspect, Felicity Omojoakinjere from Ondo State said, “I was arrested because I went to Cameroon to carry rice but the rice is not mine. I am a boat worker and I have not carried rice before. I used to carry provisions. It was until the rice was loaded into the boat before I knew I was to carry rice.”

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