*Suspects insist they belong to a legal entity
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The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a Commanding Officer, Sunday Dakare, 47, and 107 other members of the Nigerian Merchant Navy/ Coastal Defence Force over their alleged operation of an illegal organisation.
The suspects who were arrested during a raid of their camp at Ogudu waterside after weeks of undercover surveillance were paraded yesterday evening by Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja.
Addressing reporters, Odumosu said the illegal training camp of the Merchant Navy was raided around 11am.
“There has been credible actionable intelligence on the illegal activities of the Merchant Navy following which the command embarked on intensive surveillance on the camp and its activities therein,” he said.
“The command carried out a well-coordinated overt operation on the training camp, during the following items were recovered: several military accoutrements including, camouflage, badges of ranks, flag, signboard, ID cards. Other items recovered include recruitment letters, promotion letters, portrait of the commanding officer, two motorcycles, one plasma TV, three cutlasses, criminal charms and other items.
“The Nigerian Merchant Navy also called the Coastal Defence Force has been operating illegally since 2005. It has been outlawed by the Federal Government hence it is illegal for anyone to operate such a military outfit giving military training to unsuspecting young Nigerians.”
Some of the suspects denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the outfit has the approval of the Ministry of Defence as the “fourth arm.”
They insisted they were only in training and awaiting their arms, ammunition and other equipment from the federal government before they are deployed.
According to them, the bill to establish the Merchant Navy had passed second reading at the National Assembly and so, the organisation was not an illegal entity.The suspects argued that Merchant Navy was recognised the world over and so, Nigeria should not be an exception. They said they were yet to be paid their salaries and were in camp waiting for the Federal Government to do the needful.
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