In the efforts to curtail the activities of Nigerian Merchant Navy, accused of operating illegally, the Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, arrested the Commanding Officer, Sunday Dakare, aged 47, and 107 suspects currently on training.
The arrests were made at about 11am when the police raided the training camp of the group, located at Ogudu Sand field area.
Briefing journalists on the arrest, the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu stated that the command got credible intelligence on the illegal activities of the body, which made it to embark on intensive surveillance on the camp and its activities therein.
“Consequent upon intensive monitoring of the camp, and its operators, the Command carried out a well-coordinated overt operation at the training camp in the early hours of today (November 10).
“During the raid, which was coordinated by the Operations Department of the Command, the following items were recovered: several military accoutrements, including camouflage, badges of ranks, flag, signboard, ID cards.
“Other items recovered include recruitment letters, promotion letters, portrait of the Commanding Officer, two motorcycles, one plasma TV, three cutlasses, criminal charms and other items.
“In the course of interrogation, it was discovered that the Nigerian Merchant Navy also called the COASTAL DEFENCE FORCE has been operating illegally since 2005,” the state police boss said.
He recalled that the Nigerian Merchant Navy had been outlawed by the federal government, saying that it was illegal for anyone to operate such a military outfit which was giving military training to unsuspecting young Nigerians.
According to Odumosu, “this trend portends danger for our nation and (is) a threat to peace and security. It therefore behoves on us as a law enforcement agency to enforce such law banning activities of the illegal military outfit.”
The police commissioner warned other individuals or groups still operating such illegal outfit in any part of the state to close it forthwith.
“Anyone nursing the plan to operate such outlawed security outfit is advised in his own interest to rescind the decision or face the full wrath of the law.
“The police will not hesitate to clamp down on them and their operators, and bring them to book.
We therefore urge members of the public with useful information about any one operating a clandestine military outfit or training camp to inform the police for urgent necessary action,” he added.
