The Nigerian Navy has declared 43 personnel wanted for desertion.
A circular which was displayed at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja contained the names, photographs of the deserters.
Members of the public with vital information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing officers were urged to report to the nearest Naval facility or Police station. The circular also mandated Naval personnel with information on the whereabouts of the 43 personnel to arrest them or risk being dealt with as an accomplice.
The deserted Officers were identified as, L.O Chiegboka (SVC NN/3764. Ship: NOP Lake Chad), O.S. Itodo (SVC 5872F. Ship: NNH Warri), Anthony E.S. (SVC 18870. Ship: NNS Delta), Yusuf A. (SVC X15018. Ship: NNS Partfinder) Brown I.E (SVC X15545. Ship: NNH Warri) and Adiele S.C (SVC X15782. Ship: NNS SOROH), Armstrong K, (SVC 7553. Ship: NNS PARTFINDER), Hassan A. (SVC X7542. Ship NNS PARTFINDER) and Osazuwa G (SVC X15831. Ship: NHQ).
The circular reads, “Above are the Nigerian Navy Personnel who have deserted from Service recently. Accordingly, you are please requested to assist in providing useful information that will lead to their arrest or you may apprehend any one of them when seen and handover to the nearest Nigerian Navy base or security station”.
Although no reason was given for the disappearance of the officers, reports showed most of the deserters were serving on naval vessels on foreign missions and absconded when the ship berthed in some European countries.
The circular provided the contact phone numbers where information relating to the wanted Officers could be reported.
A naval source, noting the increasing number of desertion in the service, said it was becoming worrisome and it was more rampant among officers serving in vessels and ships assigned to foreign missions.