The Lagos State Police Command has discovered an alleged illegal Nigerian Navy training camp with over 100 persons.
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According to the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, 108 persons impersonating the Nigerian Navy were arrested during a raid on the illegal training camp at the Ogudu-Sanfield area of the state on Wednesday, November 10.
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The Commissioner who paraded the suspects at the command headquarters in Ikeja, said the camp headed by one Sunday Dakare has been operating since 2005 under the aegis of the Nigerian Merchant Navy, alias Coastal Defence, which the Federal Government outlawed.
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Odumosu said, "On November 10, 2021, around 11am, the Lagos State Police Command raided the illegal training camp of the Merchant Navy located in the Ogudu-Sandfield area, Lagos State, and arrested the Commanding Officer, Sunday Dakare, 47, together with 107 suspects currently on training.
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"I wish to inform you that there has been credible actionable intelligence on the illegal activities of the Merchant Navy following which the command embarked on intensive surveillance of the camp and its activities therein. Consequent upon intensive monitoring of the camp and its operators, the command carried out a well-coordinated overt operation at the training camp in the early hours of today.
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"During the raid, which was coordinated by the operations department of the command, the following items were recovered: several military accouterments, including camouflage badges of ranks, a flag, a signboard and ID cards. Other items recovered include recruitment letters, promotion letters, a portrait of the commanding officer, two motorcycles, one plasma TV, three cutlasses, criminal charms and other items.ÔÇØ
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"This trend portends danger for our nation and a threat to peace and security. It, therefore, behooves us as a law enforcement agency to enforce the law banning activities of the illegal military outfit. I want to use this medium to warn other individuals or groups still operating such illegal outfits in any part of the state to close it forthwith.
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"The police will not hesitate to clamp down on them and their operators and bring them to book,ÔÇØ he added.
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Speaking to journalists, Dakare said;
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"We just got small shanties where we can relax; we have no block, we have been there for over 10 years, we have been recruiting ourselves and waiting for the Federal Government.
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"Just like civil defence, we have been waiting for the Federal Government; we have done first and second reading and the third reading is on, so we are waiting; that was why we gathered ourselves there.ÔÇØ
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One of the arrested trainees, Kehinde Islamiat, said she registered online and has been in the camp for 7 months.
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"I have been with them for seven months. We are still expecting the Federal Government to pay our salary. Everything about this stuff is online; we are expecting the government to answer our prayers for our rifles and patrol vans.ÔÇØ
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In 2012, an Ikeja High Court in a case, ruled that there was no law legalizing the Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps. The court had described the Corps as an illegal organization which constitutes a threat to national security.
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However, a bill seeking for the establishment of Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety Corps has passed its 2nd reading.
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The bill was sponsored in December 2020 by the member representing Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency, Hon. Tajudeen Adefisayo.
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The bill passed its second reading in June 2021.
