The Nigerian Navy has arrested 12 people over an alleged illegal recruitment and training scheme operating in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The suspects comprise six alleged organisers or officials, five recruits or trainees and one cadet of the Merchant Seaman Academy.
The operation was carried out on August 31, 2026, by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Jubilee, alongside troops from Headquarters 2 Brigade/Operation Thunder, 6 Battalion of the Nigerian Army and operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the operation followed credible intelligence about the activities of a purported Nigeria Coast Guard Academy at Uwa West, Essien Udim.
According to the statement, the joint security team raided the Merchant Seaman Academy, which was allegedly being used as a venue for the unauthorised recruitment and training of people presented as provisional cadets of the purported organisation.
“The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with sister security agencies, has foiled an illegal recruitment and training scheme operating outside the framework of recognised law and regulatory authority, with the potential to defraud unsuspecting members of the public in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State,” Folorunsho said.
The Navy said preliminary findings showed that the recruitment and training activities were neither authorised nor recognised under applicable law, raising concerns that unsuspecting Nigerians could be lured into the scheme through false representations.
The 12 suspects were subsequently handed over to the Violent Crime Response Unit of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for further investigation and necessary legal action.
Folorunsho said the operation demonstrated the Nigerian Navy’s proactive approach to identifying emerging threats before they developed into wider security and public-safety challenges.
He added that the intervention disrupted a structure allegedly exploiting the aspirations of Nigerians seeking careers in the maritime and security sectors.
The Nigerian Navy urged members of the public to exercise caution when responding to recruitment advertisements or offers from purported security, maritime or military organisations, particularly where such organisations cannot establish legal recognition or regulatory approval.
It advised prospective applicants to verify the authenticity of such organisations and recruitment exercises through appropriate government channels before paying money or providing personal information.
“The successful operation further demonstrates the value of intelligence-led action and inter-agency cooperation in protecting citizens from criminal exploitation,” the statement added.
The Navy also reaffirmed its commitment to working with other security agencies to safeguard lives and property, disrupt criminal enterprises and prevent unscrupulous individuals from exploiting members of the public.