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| Detained Merchant Ship: Not carried out by IPOB - Lying Nigerian Army sends out conflicting messages in 24hrs |
The Nigerian Defense Authorities have sent out conflicting information regarding the alleged detention of a merchant ship off the coast of Bakassi Peninsula.
The authorities, which confirmed in a report by the New York Times that the ship was detained by Niger Delta militants, this morning in a report by Vanguard denied it.
According to Vanguard, the Nigerian "military authorities in Nigeria debunked reports that Nigerian militant group with sympathy to Biafra and IPOB hijacked a ship and are demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government before the ship will be released."
Speaking with Vanguard on the development, Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig-General Rabe Abubakar said: “It is not true. The story about the hijack has happened but not within our waters and it is not under any particular group.
“But it (ship) is currently being guarded by Benin Republic Navy. The name of the Ship is MT Leondias (9279927), a tanker. The ship is presently in Benin waters, about 7.5 nautical miles, off Cotonou Port under the watch of the Benin Republic Navy.”
Few hours later, the Nigerian army said it will take strict measures against the purported pro-Biafran militants threatening the peace within the southsouth and southeast region of the country.
According to the Defence Headquarters, the pro-Biafran militants who allegedly hijacked a merchant vessel off the coast of Nigeria on Friday, January 29, would be made to face the wrath which is meted-out to criminal and saboteurs.
Defence sources, who claimed knowledge of the hijacking on Tuesday, February 2, explained that the operatives of the Nigerian Navy were on the trail of the captured vessel and the hijackers.
The director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Rabe Abubakar who confirmed the hijack, threatened that the military would deal decisively with those he called criminals and saboteurs.
He said the vessel, named MT LEON DIAS, was hijacked outside Nigeria’s territorial waters about 7.5 nautical miles off the Port of Cotonou, adding that the vessel was under the watch of the Navy of Benin Republic.
Abubakar said: “Well, I can confirm to you that a vessel, a tanker with the name MT LEON DIAS with number 9279927, was hijacked 7.5 nautical miles off Cotonou port. The ship is presently in Benin Republic. It is a merchant ship.
“I must add that on this issue of militancy, there are no more militants now, what we have are criminals. The Amnesty programme has taken care of the militants.
“The military will treat those behind such acts as criminal and saboteurs; the law will take its course; the security agencies will do their job.
“The country’s interest is above any other person’s interest. We have to work towards the enthronement of peace and stability because development can only take place in an atmosphere of peace.”
The spokesman for the Defence, said the military would treat those behind such crimes in the nation’s maritime domain as criminals and saboteurs.
Abubakar admitted that there “were some sort of threats,” but he was not specific on the 31-day ultimatum issued by the hijackers.
The hijacked ship is believed to be an oil tanker, some maritime industry sources claimed that the vessel was an oil tanker seized about 160 kilometres off the Bakassi Peninsula.
Truth: Two ships were hijacked:
Truth is Nigerian military authories is ashamed to admit that two ships were reportedly hijacked about the same time one around the coast of Bakassi, the other around the coast of Benin Republic. According to the report by the New York Times, "pirates seized the Greek-owned chemical tanker MV Leon Dias off Nigeria's coast, according to an official of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to reporters. He said it was hijacked on Friday, other reports said Sunday, and diverted to an oil terminal off Cotonou, capital of neighboring Benin. Maritime News said the chief officer was seriously injured and is being held hostage with four other seamen."
Truth is Nigerian military authories is ashamed to admit that two ships were reportedly hijacked about the same time one around the coast of Bakassi, the other around the coast of Benin Republic. According to the report by the New York Times, "pirates seized the Greek-owned chemical tanker MV Leon Dias off Nigeria's coast, according to an official of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to reporters. He said it was hijacked on Friday, other reports said Sunday, and diverted to an oil terminal off Cotonou, capital of neighboring Benin. Maritime News said the chief officer was seriously injured and is being held hostage with four other seamen."
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