For further investigation, the Department of Fishery, Ministry of Agriculture in Edo State has taken custody of 15 suspects and a Merchant Fishing Vessel, MVF, Lily IV, handed over by the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Delta.
At the Navy base Jetty in Warri, the suspects and the vessel were delivered to Mr. Iwanegbe America, a representative of the Fishery Department, by the Executive Officer of NNS Delta, Capt. Solomon Paul, on behalf of Commodore Abba Muhsin, the Commander of NNS Delta.
Commodore Muhsin, while speaking to the press, disclosed that the vessel and suspects were apprehended on March 11 in Forcados, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta. They were detained for allegedly unlawfully entering the Maritime Exclusion Zone of the Forcados Oil Terminal Crude Loading Platform.
“We are here to hand over MFV Lily IV and 15 suspects, consisting of 14 Nigerians and one Ghanaian,” Commodore Muhsin stated. The Nigerian Navy personnel aboard intercepted and captured the Merchant Fishing Vessel, Lily IV. The vessel was then taken into custody by the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Escravos, for investigation on March 13.
“The investigation revealed that two of the crew members were not listed on the vessel’s manifest,” he added.