Suspected Nigerian pirates deported

The eight Nigerians arrested for allegedly hijacking a fuel vessel on the high seas by the Eastern Naval Command of the Ghana Navy in Tema have been repatriated to Nigeria.

The suspects are Molih William,32; Molih Klinsman,31; David Jacob, 30 and Amaos Ebiyaibo,32. The rest are Aki Peggy,32; John Picolo,25; Ayetimili Oyinle,29 and Pisano Saniyu,26.

Deportation

The suspects were deported on January 7, this year. 

According to the Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) of the Ghana Police, Commissioner of Police (COP) David Asante-Apeatu, the decision was based on the orders of the Minister of the Interior, Mr mark Owen Woyongo.

The suspects were remanded in custody by the Adjabeng Magistrate Court in Accra where they were standing trial.

However, following the order, Mr Asante-Apeatu said arrangements were made with the Ghana Immigration Service to facilitate their deportation after the Interpol office at Lagos had been alerted.
And on January 7 he said, the suspects were escorted by a combined team from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Immigration Service and handed over to the Nigerian Interpol officials.

He further explained that, the suspects were deported to Nigeria for “proper prosecution since the incident happened in Nigerian territory.”

“Due to the nature of piracy, international cross-sectoral partnership is vital and this is a typical international co-oporation between the two police agencies,” Mr Asante-Apeatu said.

The Ghana Police, he indicated, was ready to assist the Nigerian Police in prosecuting the suspects, adding “no one country can fight piracy, we have to team up.”

Background
The suspected pirates were said to have hijacked the vessel, MV Mariam, that was carrying about 1,500 tonnes of crude oil on the Nigerian high seas but later diverted their route into the territorial waters of Ghana.

They were arrested on January 17, 2015 after the owner of the vessel, named only as Mr Sunday, alerted the Ghana Navy Command to be on the lookout.

A tracking device fixed on the vessel is said to have given the suspects up.

Writer’s email: emelia.ennin@graphic.com.gh