Those that are being targeted in the crackdown are members of the Nigerian Merchant Marine, Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps, Global College of Marine and Technology, Merchant Navy Maritime Academy as well as the Nigeria Merchant Navy and Maritime Law Enforcement Agency.
This was made known in a statement released by the Director of Information of the Nigerian Navy, Commodore CHRISTIAN EZEKOBE, as published by online based PR-Nigeria.
According to the statement; the naval authorities said the mandate of the enforcement is to ensure that any impostor does not go scot-free because of several cases of security breaches and criminal activities involving fake naval personnel.
Commodore EZEKOBE noted that in view of the fragile security situation in the country, particularly in the Niger Delta area, the activities of illegal maritime security organisations has posed great danger to the frantic efforts by the Nigerian Navy and sister security services to check the security challenges in the country.
He said the crackdown has started paying off; following the arrest of one ALLEN BENSON EDEMA last Friday around the National Assembly Abuja, who was dressed in the uniform of a naval commodore, which is equivalent to the rank of a Brigadier General.
The Navy spokesman alleged that EDEMA who was arrested along side another suspect also dressed up in naval uniform, is the arrow head of a fake maritime security organisation that goes by the name Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps.
Commodore EZEKOBE also confirmed the arrest of another six persons by naval operatives at the Forward Operating Base in Badagry, Lagos State on suspicion of impersonating personnel of the Nigerian Navy.
He said the suspects who were dressed in naval uniform with rank badges of the Nigerian Navy claimed to be members of the Nigerian Merchant Marine.
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