Islam Times - Nigerian navy seizes ship loaded with arms, ammunition

Islam Times - Nigerian officials say the country’s navy has seized a foreign-flagged ship laden with arms and ammunition off the coast of the port city of Lagos, arresting 15 members of the crew.

Nigeria’s command spokesman Lieutenant Commander Jerry Omodara announced on Tuesday that the vessel was intercepted by naval patrol boats on Saturday.

No information has, however, been provided about the destination of the vessel.

“Preliminary investigations show that the MV Myre Seadiver was laden with assorted weapons, including 14 AK-47 rifles with 3,643 ammunitions as well as 22 Benelli MR1 rifles with 4,955 ammunitions,” Omodara said.

He further stated that “There is no indication that the vessel was authorized to come into Nigeria and worse still, to carry arms.”

“We have arrested 15 members of the crew who are mostly Russians,” he said, adding that the ship and crew were being detained for further investigation.

According to Nigerian authorities, the ship belongs to the Moran Security Group, based in Moscow, and was flying a Dutch flag when it was stopped.

The vessel is currently docked at the navy's Beecroft's harbor in Apapa, Lagos, the country's economic capital and main seaport.

Nigeria is awash with illegal weapons that have intensified violence in the populous and oil-producing West African nation.