THE Nigerian Navy has said that the seven gunboats alleged to have been bought by an ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, indeed belonged to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. The Chief of Training and Operations of the NN, Rear Admiral Austin Oyagha, at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday said reports that Tompolo had acquired warships was untrue. Oyagha said
“I want to state categorically that no individual has acquired gun boats in this country. The gunboats being alluded to actually belong to NIMASA and these boats are currently being manned by personnel of the Nigerian Navy.
“And as you are all aware, Nigerian Navy has collaboration with NIMASA, to which we have a maritime component attached in support of the statutory responsibility in ensuring the safety of our harbour approaches to our anchorage.”
He also dismissed claims that the gunboats had Tompolo written on them, saying no such boat was operating in Nigeria’s territorial waters.
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