Nigerian authorities intercepted a ship and arrested its Russian crew on October 23 after they found several guns and around 8,500 rounds of ammunition aboard.

"On Monday, we handed over the crew to the police as we have completed preliminary investigations," Lieutenant Commander Jerry Omodara, spokesman for the Western Naval Command, said by telephone. "The ship and the weapons are still in our custody."

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the sailors were facing a court case initiated "under false pretexts" and that Nigeria broke a promise given to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that the men would return to Russia before the New Year.

"We expect that this time around the Nigerian partners will stick to their word and release the Russian sailors in the nearest time without additional conditions and further delays," the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Arms smuggling to and through Nigeria is rife. Demand for weapons is great because of an Islamist rebellion in the north, armed robbery and kidnapping by gangs in the south and oil theft and piracy in the southeast.

The country is also sometimes used as a conduit for shipping arms to other conflict-ridden parts of West Africa.

The Moran Security Group, the Russian company that owns the confiscated vessel, called the accusations "groundless" and urged Nigeria to release the sailors.

"Over nearly three months, no charges were presented. This means the Nigerian side has no strong evidence... A week after the detention they would have been transferred to police arrest and then to court," Moran spokesman Alexei Maximov said.

"This case ... is the worst possible scenario that is threatening bilateral ties between Russia and Nigeria," he said.

Omodara said the boat was stopped initially because it was in Nigerian waters without permission.

In 2010, a consignment of rocket launchers, grenades and other explosives from Iran was seized in Lagos, causing a diplomatic row between Nigeria and Iran. It also strained ties between Iran and Senegal, which accused Iranian security forces of trying to supply weapons to its Casamance rebels.

(Reporting by Isaac Abrak; Additional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska in Moscow; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Tom Pfeiffer)

http://allafrica.com/stories/201301100285.html

2nd

now the so called super powers are trying to influence our country, first it was RUSAL now its illegal sailors

wonderful , space taken, brb.

Okija_juju: I said it...... And thats how the matter was ressolved...



Power pass Power... 3rd world nation vs. G-8 member nation.. HOW!!!







OYA NA!!! RUSSIA said unto Nigeria:: Let my people go now, or.....

am a witness

Dis is d problem with nigeria......charge dis people to court or release dem unconditionally. If d die here na anada wahala be dat o.

Nigeria clueless govt vs Russian world power

U̶̲̥̅̊ should really do comedy U̶̲̥̅̊ knw!

This case is as good as closed. No need muscle flexing on this one

Abeg make naija nor fucck up oo before we start seeign drones all over our skies

dulphines:
Russia: Release them or...
Nigeria: or what
Russia: We will er-razze Nigeria from planet Earth.
Nigeria: Person no dey joke with una again?

jerseyboy: A weak and poorly governed nation like Nigeria must comply to the Russian threat.

cold: This case is as good as closed. No need muscle flexing on this one

ROTFLMAO! Wow, Nigeria and Nigerians have truly suffered. . Collectively, the country needs to just change. this is embarrassing.

Are they trying to intimidate us?

How many times this tin go make frong page! I read am here yesterday

@the topic, if it where to be Nigerians arrested in russia, malaysia or even ghana, weather guilty or not, they will be jailed or killed witout our clueless govt. Doin anytn abt it, we tink we are the most corrupt and as such when ever the news abt abt nigeria indisporal come on, even we are quick to sentence our fellow nigerians witout even knowin if they really guilty or not, here is a country that value their citizen, they don't want to know if they guilty or not, all they want is they shld be returned back, if na my darlinwho cares, afterall we dey by ourself kill each other for our own country self, I remember the saying in my dialet which says " if who get cloth say the cloth noget use, who no get am go help use am park dirty" I pitty this country

Are Russians mad . . .who do they thinking they are joking with? Almighty Nigeria, the most populated black and the most corrupt nation in the world.

Speechless

xynerise: Are they trying to intimidate us?

No sir, they know we are not serious, so anyo come do anythin and get away with it, they even surprise that our naval men even arrested them, wondering why they refuse to accept the bribe given to them as usual, erlse this won't hv bn in the media

Nigeria una no dey fear face. Me don talk my own finish o.

This should be sorted out immediately to avoid any diplomatic row..i'm a little disappionted that jonathan completely abandoned the foreign policy of late pres. Yar adua by departing from countries like russia, china, and the other brics and rather facing the west whuch have nothing to offer us.

Maybe this is the time Biafra use their good old friend Russian to secede, I tell you they know where to bomb....

Space reserved while I try to get a parking space for my executive keke Napep.
I'll be back


Meanwhile still on 24th. Baba God na him do am!!!

We won't release them. Let them do their worst!

[size=16pt]DONT RELEASE THEM! THEY CANT BULLY US![/size]

See as Russia dey ride 52 years old nation...

J12: We won't release them. Let them do their worst!

Russia (lion)- gbrrrrooaaooooo
Nigeria (kitten)- meoow

Okija_juju: I said it...... And thats how the matter was ressolved...



Power pass Power... 3rd world nation vs. G-8 member nation.. HOW!!!











OYA NA!!! RUSSIA said unto Nigeria:: Let my people go now, or.....

I CANT BUT AGREE WITH YOU,"CONDUCTOR" SEXKILLZ IS AN AMAZING PIECE OF BISON DUNG! I HAVE HAD TO KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO HIM SEVERALLY

let us not make too much noise abt all this .. Nigeria will release dis soldiers

POOR NIGERIA
Our people are suffering in those foreign countries without any offence and our government can't interfere.Now Russians are demanding for the release of their terrorist.
JUST IMAGINE!!! What an awkward request
TO HELL WITH RUSSIANS AND THEIR FORCES.WE ARE AFRICA THE USER OF BLACK MAGIC.