The officers of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH at Naval Base in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, have raided a suspected sea robbers’ hideout in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state and recovered weapons.

The Nigerian Navy said the raid was carried out at about 2 a.m. on Friday, November 10, to curb the area of illegal weapons before, during, and after the off-cycle gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State.

The navy, in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, AO Ayo-Vaughan, said the suspected sea robbers, on sighting the Nigerian Navy Patrol team gunboats, fled into the bush.

Ayo-Vaughan added: “During the raid in Southern Ijaw, NNS SOROH special anti-sea robbery team further cordoned and searched the area and recovered, one general purpose machine gun (GPMG) with 100 links, 2 x AK 47 rifles, one locally made long gun, 2 x Tavor magazines, 11 rounds of 7.62 (NATO), and 2 x Cartridge rounds of pump action gun.

READ ALSO: Presidency: N5.09bn yacht is for Navy, not Tinubu

“Additionally, other recovered items include 2 x 200HP  Yamaha  Engine, 5 x Baofeng Radio, Small Techno Android phone, one GPS phone and 3x small techno phone as well as assorted camouflage uniforms.

“The camp was subsequently deactivated to deny the criminals any shelter within the vicinity.”

He stated that the naval officers will continue to conduct such sting operations to resist and arrest criminals desperate to undermine the “democratic process, disrupt public peace or breach the hard-earned Maritime Security during and after the off cycle election period”.

“The Service will continue to cooperate with stakeholders to achieve a peaceful Maritime environment critical for legitimate business by law abiding citizens towards the national economic development and prosperity,” he noted.

The Star