Navy debunks extortion, harassment allegations in Badagry

• It’s Corruption Fighting Back, Says Adams—Aliu
The Nigerian Navy has debunked allegations of harassment and extortions leveled against some of its operatives in the Badagry area of Lagos State by some residents and filling station operators, stressing that it was “corruption fighting back.”

The Navy said unpatriotic Nigerians whose main business involves smuggling petroleum products across the Badagry borders into neighbouring countries, and have been finding things tough in recent time, were behind the unfounded allegations.

The Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base (FOB), Badagry, Navy Captain Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu made the clarification at a stakeholders’ meeting, which had the leadership of the Base and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Badagry branch in attendance.

In a statement by James Wusu, on behalf of Concerned Citizens and Residents of Badagry, Wusu had alleged that naval officers stationed in Badagry indiscriminately extort money from innocent citizens as well as forcibly take fuel from filling stations.

He noted that the incidences that started as one-offs have become habitual, as the officers, often times under the influence of alcohol, shoot sporadically into the air to scare passers-by while collecting money from both customers and attendants in some of the filling stations.

But Adams-Aliu, who explained that the meeting became expedient in view of the unfounded allegations, stressed that the FOB does nothing other than to ensure the safety and security of the Nigerian maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea.

Adams-Aliu said: “In a bid to achieve the strategic objective, the Base conducts various operations both on land and in the maritime space. It is worthy to state that due to the fact that Badagry is a border town, it is susceptible to smuggling of commodities such as petroleum, which is meant for the Nigerian market.

“This business of smuggling in and out of Nigeria has been going on for many years. This was a route for slave trade but it is now a route for smuggling. When they cannot pass through the road, they attempt to pass through this waterway. The practice here in Badagry is that most of the gas filling stations don’t sell fuel to Nigerians; they would rather smuggle the fuel out of the country at night to neighbouring countries where they would sell at outrageous prices. Smuggling in Badagry is more or less a communal activity; a lot of people are dependent on the illicit trade.

“I took over on March 23, 2023; I have spent just about 6 months. I work for the Federal Government and if the government has made a decision that petrol made for the Nigerian market should be sold in Nigeria, I cannot pretend when I see smugglers carrying petroleum products across Nigerian waters to Port Novo in Cotonou, Benin Republic. Our mandate is to check the boundaries around here and prevent smuggling; if possible, make arrests. This is what we have been doing diligently, and now the perpetrators are trying to fight back by peddling falsehood.”

Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander O. K. Umoru, however, charged the petroleum marketers to be wary of impersonators who may come around their facilities in military apparel.

He urged them not to hesitate to contact the Base if such persons are sighted within their facilities in the future.

In his reaction, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT, Apapa, Commodore Kola Oguntuga maintained that the Navy “would continue to do what the constitution has mandated” it to do.

“If the public believes in us, it’s fine. But if not, God will vindicate us. We are an established organisation working to ensure adequate security of the country and its waters, and we would remain undeterred,” Commodore Oguntuga said.

The Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (Badagry branch), Adelana Ganiyu, in his comments, said that the relationship between his members and the Navy has been smooth.

Adams-Aliu gave a breakdown of activities of the Base since he took over. He disclosed that a total of 13 arrests have been made while a volume of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) totaling 51,300 litres, and valued at about N30, 780,000 have also been confiscated from smugglers. This is aside from bags of rice and cannabis sativa that have also been seized from the smugglers.