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| credits: www.naval-technology.com |
A former Niger Delta militant, Mr.
Government Ekpemupolo, alia Tompolo, has bought seven decommissioned
Norwegian battleships, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.
Reports by a Norwegian newspaper,
Dagbladet, said that the fast-speed Hauk-class guided missile boats had
been re-armed with new weaponry.
The report also revealed that
Ekpemupolo’s most recent purchase is a KNM Horten, a fast-attack craft
now used in fighting piracy in Nigeria’s waterways.
It was learnt that in spite of his
alleged history of violence, Tompolo, now controls the Global West
Vessel Service, a privately owned contractor for maritime security for
the Nigerian Maritime Safety Agency.
Buying arms from Norway requires an
export license from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ships
were reportedly sold first to CAS Global, a British security company
that has such a license, after which Ekpemupolo reportedly bought the
ships from the British company.
Dagblade reported that the seven
Norwegian ships are now part of the company’s maritime fleet patrolling
under a contract for the Federal Government.
Source:
Punch Newspaper
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