Multiple associations in the Ilaje Riverine have raised alarm over what they described as incessant misconduct by officers of the Nigerian Navy, threatening to embark on an indefinite strike if the situation is not addressed,
Peak Newspaper reports that the petition was issued through their legal representatives, Omolegbon Odusola & Co.
The groups — including the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (Igbokoda District); Ilaje United Water Transport Association; Association of Tourism and Boat Owners and Water Transport (ATBOWAT) and the Association of Coastal Feeders, Crayfish, Seafood Marketers of Nigeria — made their grievances known in a petition addressed to the Chairman of the Ilaje Local Government Council.
According to the petition, naval personnel in the area have allegedly engaged in various unprofessional and unlawful activities, including:
Forceful extortion of money, fishes, crayfish, and other seafood from boat operators and traders; torture and physical assault of traders and transporters who refuse to comply with their demands; Illegal involvement in civil disputes, acting as debt collectors for private individuals; Extra-judicial killings, with the associations alleging that at least five persons have been killed by naval officers in Ilaje “without any lawful justification.”
The groups further noted that although the Nigerian Navy maintains only one base in Igbokoda and one office in Ugbo-Nla, officers have stationed themselves at several wooden and stone jetties in the riverine area to carry out the alleged extortion. These jetties were identified as: Ugbo-Nla Jetty, Idiogba Jetty, Awoye Jetty, Abereke Jetty and Ori-Oke Iwamimo Jetty
Nevertheless, the Ilaje Riverine Associations outlined key demands, urging the local government chairman to intervene urgently:
“(1) That the naval personnel should leave these Jetties, that is, Ugbo-Nla Jetty, Idiogba Jetty, Awoye Jetty, Abereke Jetty and Ori-Oke Iwamimo Jetty and retrain themselves to their Base at Igbokoda and their Office at Ugb-Nla community.
“(2) The stoppage of the extortion of money and fishes from boat drivers, traders and fishermen.
“(3) That the Navy officers should stop using themselves as debt collector agents in ilaje and stop dabbling into civil matters.
“(4) That the Navy officers should also stop assaulting people and melting out inhuman treatment to people trading in the waterways. If anyone is found committing any crime, they have the right to arrest, but they must hand over such person to the police without any form of assault being melted out to such person.
“(5) The Navy Personnel should also stop the extra judicial killings they are carrying out in Ilaje.”
The associations further appealed to the Chairman of Ilaje Local Government to thoroughly investigate the “unlawful operations” of naval officers in the Ilaje Riverine. They warned that failure to resolve the issues within seven days of receiving the petition will leave them with no option but to embark on an industrial action scheduled for 27th November 2025.
