SSS Arrests 5 Suspected Pirates

The State Security Service (SSS) said on Thursday in Lagos that it had apprehended five suspected pirates, including a man believed to be a retired naval officer.

According to the security organisation, the officer of the rank of lieutenant commander rank and four others were arrested for allegedly hijacking a vessel laden with 26,000 tonnes of fuel.

Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, Deputy Director, Public Relations Department of the SSS, announced this at a media briefing.

She said the Lagos-bound vessel — “ROASA TOMASOS” — was hijacked by the suspects and others still at large on November 3 while approaching Lagos from the Niger Delta.

“On November 6, the SSS successfully recovered the vessel and its content intact while the suspects, who are members of a notorious gang of pirates, were apprehended. “Investigation also revealed that this same group was responsible for the hijack of a vessel named Cape Bird carrying 32,000 tonnes of automated gas oil, belonging to Sahara Energy Resources on October 7 and succeeded in taking away eight tonnes of the products,” Ogar told newsmen.

The SSS spokesperson said the suspects, who were being investigated, would soon be charged to court. Ogar, however, said two persons had also been declared wanted in connection with the hijack — Abenego Abaka a.k.a Captain Abedi and Felix a.k.a FNU, a “lawyer”.

She urged Nigerians to desist from acts capable of giving the country negative image, adding that they should also be security conscious and cooperate with security agencies by offering useful information.