Ghanaians applauseds their navy command for arresting Nigerian pirates

Several Ghanaians on Monday commended the Ghana Navy for showing high sense of professionalism in arresting Nigerian pirates who hijacked an oil tanker on Ghanaian territorial waters.

The Navy on Saturday captured eight pirates involved in the hijacking of a crude oil tanker on the high seas in Hollywood style. According to reports, the pirates were armed but no one, including the nine-member crew aboard MT Mariam, was injured when the Ghanaian Navy crew aboard GNS Blika effected the arrest 26 nautical miles south-east of Tema after the ship had drifted into Ghanaian waters.

According to Graphic Online, the owner of MT Mariam, Mr Nakase Sunday told journalists in Tema that the hijacking occurred at 5am on January 11, 2015 at Warri in Nigeria, adding that the vessel contains approximately 1,500 metric tonnes of crude oil when it was captured by the pirates. The hijackers seized the vessel and allegedly drained it of its oil.

Mr. Nakase said the ship was en route to Togo when it was hijacked. He said the owner immediately flew into Ghana last Friday after he had detected via a tracking system that the ship had drifted into the Ghanaian waters and quickly approached the Ghana Navy for assistance.

Nakase joined many Ghanaians who are heaping praises on the Navy for the swift response which led to the capture of all the pirates and saving the lives of his crew and vessel, claiming that though the products were lost, they are glad the crew and vessel were safe.

The eight pirates, identified to be Nigerians have been brought ashore at Tema pending further investigations. They are named as Molih Williams, 32; Peggy Aki, 32; Ebiyaibo Amos, 32, Molih Klinsman, 31, David Jacob, 30; Ayetimiyi Oyinle, 29; Pinamo Samiyo, 26 and Picolo John, 25.

Linda Mensah, an administrator said the Navy crew has done Ghana proud for showing their sense of integrity for not pocketing the retrieved amount of $1,270 and 43,850 Naira as well as four AK 47 assault rifles, ten fully loaded AK47 magazines with a total of 300 rounds of ammunition, one pump action gun, 18 mobile phones, one digital camera, one hair clipper, three hand held VHF radio sets, seven wrist watches and other personal belongings from the pirates.

MT Mariam has since docked at the Tema Port and placed under armed guard.