Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Beecroft, Apapa Lagos, have arrested 41 suspects in connection with the invasion of the Nigerian Ports Authority headquarters, Marina, last week , where vehicles and valuables were razed.

 The suspects are alleged to be equally responsible for the looting of many warehouses and private apartments in Surulere , Orile, Ijora Apapa, Costain and Amukoko areas of the state.

Items recovered from them include; fabrics, electronics, truck parts , a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV , stolen from the NPA headquarters and two trucks loaded with the stolen items and palliatives .

One of the trucks loaded with the stolen items was intercepted under Iganmu Bridge as it was on the verge being driven outside Lagos, to sell the palliatives at give away prices to ready buyers.

According to the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Ibrahim Shettima, the operation which was carried out in response to the civil unrest that greeted the hijack of the #EndSARS protest, was conducted under the Lagos State Security architecture code named OP MESA which designates, Apapa, Orile, Ijora, Costain, Surulere, Mile 12, and Amukoko , as the Area of Responsibility, for the Nigerian Navy.

While parading the suspects and recovered items before journalists yesterday at the NNS Beecroft parade ground, the Base Operations and Acting Executive Officer of the NNS BEECROFT, Commander Andy Zidon, who represented Commodore Shettima, said, “In the course of carrying out our task, the Base conducted patrols and took all necessary measures within the ambits of the Law as well as Internal Security Standard Operating Procedure for the Armed Forces of Nigeria to help restore peace and order.

This necessitated working with sister services as well as other law enforcement agencies including the Nigerian Police. In this regard, NNS BEECROFT deployed her personnel to Tincan Island Port and Apapa Wharf to safeguard those critical national assets.

“Furthermore, additional personnel were deployed to secure all NNPC installations at Tarkwa Bay Island including Terminals/Tanks Farms and the Atlas Cove Jetty. Furthermore, Harbour Patrols were conducted around the Ports and Lagos Anchorage to prevent miscreants from attacking visiting merchant vessels.

“NNS BEECROFT also assisted in securing the Nigerian Port Authority Headquarters at Marina after the building was invaded by hoodlums who looted and put fire to the building. Own personnel responded quickly on receipt of a distress call by the management”.