No ransom demand from kidnappers of 5 Indonesians, say cops

LAHAD DATU: The captors of the five Indonesian workers off Tambisan waters on Jan 15 have not made any ransom demand, said Sabah police commissioner Omar Mammah.

“Until today, we have not received any demand for ransom money from the kidnappers. We are investigating to find out who the masterminds are,” he said during a visit to the Lahad Datu police headquarters today.

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Source: freemalaysiatoday.com

Sabah, Labuan marine police record success in tackling maritime crimes

LABUAN: Labuan marine police thwarted smuggling activities with a total seizure worth more than RM17 million last year, compared to RM1.5 million in 2018.

Sabah marine police (Region 4) commander, ACP Mohamad Pajeri Ali said Labuan marine police also foiled several attempts of illegal fishing by foreign fishermen and intrusion by illegal immigrants.

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Source: thesundaily.my

40 abduction bids foiled in Sabah

LAHAD DATU: Since 2018, security forces have thwarted 40 kidnapping attempts in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali said this was due to the cooperation between the Royal Malaysian Police, armed forces and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

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Source: nst.com.my

Malaysia shows commitment to security in Sabah waters: Minister

Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamad Sabu has reiterated the country’s commitment to increasing security in the Sulu Sea region following recurring kidnappings of Indonesian fishermen by southern Philippines militant group Abu Sayyaf, inviting all trilateral counterparts — Indonesia and the Philippines — to join the effort.

In a visit to Jakarta on Saturday, the Malaysian politician — better known as Mat Sabu — said Malaysia would increase its efforts and role in the existing trilateral maritime patrols around Sulu and Sabah region, calling on relevant parties to follow suit.

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Source: thejakartapost.com

Malaysian terror group working with Abu Sayyaf, says deputy home minister

Jason Santos

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman today confirmed that members of a Malaysian terror group are in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf from the southern Philippines.

He said police had first established this in 2018 following the arrests of seven Abu Sayaff men and a Malaysian in separate locations in Putrajaya and places like Tenom, Ranau and Kinarut in Sabah.

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Source: freemalaysiatoday.com

Lagos waterfront evictions highlight Nigeria oil and land squabbles

By Sophie BOUILLON

The lagoon waters at the port entrance to Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, are usually teeming with small fishing boats.

But the bustling waterfront slums of Lagos are now quiet after the navy evicted tens of thousands of residents from their homes in recent weeks.

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Source: modernghana.com

Navy arrests 5 suspects, impounds 181 drums of PMS

Judex Okoro

The Nigerian Navy fight against smuggling activities on the waterways has continued unabated as the command has arrested five suspects.and impounded 4 boats.

The Navy also impounded 692 bags of foreign rice and 181 drums of PMS (petrol). The suspects, who were arrested in two separate locations around Fairway Buoy and Tom Shot Island, include Clement Okon Chali, Michael Ita Effiong, Felix Sunday, Aniefiok Effiong and Sunday Etim Bassey.

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Source: sunnewsonline.com

PNG: Boat captain missing after pirate attack

The Papua New Guinea Courier reported on Jan. 23rd that a boat captain was missing at sea after pirates attacked his boat in the early hours of Monday morning, near Alotau in Milne Bay province.

According to the media outlet, reports remain sketchy and very little information has emerged from official channels regarding the incident. Family members, posting on social media platform, suggested the boat, the MC Curringa, was attacked as it transited through Milne Bay at around 3am on Monday 20th.

They report that pirates attacked the boat and Captain, James Yakawa, who is now believed to be missing. The boat has returned to Sanderson Bay Wharf.

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ReCAAP urges mariners to avoid Sulu, Celebes seas after crew abduction

Ridzwan Rahmat

The Regional Co-operation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) has again called on mariners to re-route their journeys to avoid the Sulu and Celebes seas where possible.

The call was reiterated in the wake of another abduction-at-sea case, in which eight crew members were taken from a Malaysia-registered fishing trawler while it was at sea.

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Source: janes.com

Oil Theft: Navy Hands Over Vessel, Crew to EFCC

By Tony Orilade

MV Gratitude, a bunkered vessel and its crew of six, intercepted on January 9, 2020 by officers of the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, were today January 22, 2020 handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Commodore Suleiman Ibrahim, while handing over the vessel and crew disclosed that that the ship laden with 1,000,000 liters of locally refined automotive gas oil and it crew of six Nigerians namely, Victor Ita (captain), Rotimi Poroye, Henry Edet Bassey, Rahpael Adewale, Godswill Iko and Jonah Achieve were arrested at the Brass inshore water anchorage. He assured of the navy’s determination to clear the waterways of illegal oil bunkering and sea pirates for legitimate business operators to thrive.

Tasiu Abubakar, a superintendent of police who received the vessel and crew members on behalf of the EFCC, promised diligent investigation of the alleged crime.

Tony Orilade Acting Head, Media & Publicity

Oil Theft: DPR Pledges Support to EFCC

The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has pledge to improve its collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in fighting oil theft and other petroleum related economic crimes in the Niger Delta.

Mr. Bassey Nkanga, the Zonal Operations Controller of DPR in Port Harcourt gave the assurance on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 when he received a team from the EFCC Zonal office in Port Harcourt, led by the new Head, Mr Usman Imam.

According to Nkanga, the DPR gives EFCC priority in the analysis of product samples, “because we recognize the importance and urgency to release quality status in aid of your investigations.”

Though he observed some recent challenges in the relationship between the two agencies, the Zonal Operations Controller was quick to assure that the challenges would not affect the tempo of collaboration. “We believe the relationship between the EFCC and DPR will continue to be strong because we recognize that what you do is in the best interest of Nigeria and nothing will stop us from collaborating with EFCC. We will double the efforts,” he said.

Responding, the EFCC Zonal Head, Imam thanked the DPR management for receiving his team despite the short notice.

According to him, “My mission here is to get acquainted with you and explore how we can continue to strengthen the collaboration between our agencies. I need not overemphasize the fact that we have, and continue to benefit from the resources of the DPR.

“Your technical input in the areas of petroleum products analysis to determine the type, quality, and quantity; as well as the documentation of oil bearing vessels, have greatly assisted our investigations of oil theft, which is a major activity of the zonal office.

Imam pledged to build on the foundation of close collaboration established by his predecessors. He urged the management of the DPR to put behind them the challenges experienced in the past, assuring of a new vista of robust synergy and collaboration in the fight against illegal oil bunkering and other maritime related economic crimes.

Source: prnigeria.com