The Nigerian Navy says it has killed 16 pirates, who allegedly hijacked a vessel, MT Norte, along Lagos waters.
The Nigerian Navy, in a statement on
Monday, stated the vessel was loaded with 17,000 metric tonnes of petrol
when it was hijacked.
It was learnt that Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ibok Ibas, despatched two patrol crafts, namely NNS Andoni and NNS Ikot Abasi, in a chase on the pirates. Both vessels were said to have engaged the pirates in hot pursuit.
The Nigerian Air Force Maritime Patrol
Aircraft was said to have assisted in the chase by feeding the NN with
detailed information on the position of the vessel.
It was learnt that information was
relayed to the FOC Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Usman,
who in turn ordered that NNS Delta in Warri and FOB Formoso at Egweama Brass, to despatch their respective vessels to the scene of the action.
The statement read, “While FOB Formoso dispatched two of her patrol boats – NNS Badagry and NNS Bomadi– NNS Delta vectored NNS Obula, the manta boat and the Rapid Response Boat to join the rescue.
The statement read, “The gun battle between NNS Badagry
and the pirates lasted for about 30 minutes after which they were
over-powered by the NN gunboat and four of them surrendered by raising
up their hands. On taking over the speed boat, it was discovered that
most of the pirates were killed in the cross fire.
“The four survivors, their belongings
and three AK 47 rifles with about six magazines of 120 rounds of
ammunition were recovered and brought onboard NNS Badagry. However, the NN gun boat was
unable to recover the dead bodies of the pirates as the speed boat sank
very quickly as a result of the damage sustained during the gun
battle.”
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