The Defence Headquarters says ‘criminals’, not Pro-Biafran militants, hijacked a merchant vessel off the coast of Nigeria on Friday, January 29.
A group of ex-militants in support of the agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to secede- had taken responsibility for the hijack of the ship along the Bakassi Pennisula Nigeria coastal line.
The group had subsequently, given the Federal Government a 31-day ultimatum to release the IPOB leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, else they’d blow up the vessel.
The Defence Headquarters however reports differently, the location of the ship ‘s hijack.
Punch Newspapers reports that the DHQ revealed that the ship, believed to be an oil tanker, was seized about 7.5 nautical miles off the Port of Cotonou.
Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, revealed on Tuesday that the vessel, named MT LEON DIAS, was under the watch of the Navy of Benin Republic, when hijacked.
“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.”
Leave a reply