At least 20 convictions were obtained, according to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, in the previous 12 months.
All 20 defendants are currently serving a combined total of 119 years in prison, while some have the option of paying a fine.
This was revealed on Thursday at the 53rd State House Briefing hosted by the Presidential Communications Team at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja by Dr. Bashir Jamoh, Director-General of the NIMASA.
Individuals detained include those responsible for poaching, piracy, and other crimes in the Gulf of Guinea, according to the DG/CEO of NIMASA, who was presenting important updates on the actions of his Agency.
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According to Jamoh, three expatriates received fines and 17 of the guilty received seven years in prison apiece.
However, Jamoh did not disclose the specifics of the cases or the amounts paid in fines.
With Nigeria losing $1bn annually to piracy, the DG said NIMASA is working with sister agencies and security outfits to address the menace.
He noted that since the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), launched the Deep Blue Project in June 2021, incidences have dropped from 34 recorded last year to none to date.
Details later…
