The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Navy

  • Navy arrests 40 for alleged piracy

    The Navy said yesterday that it had arrested 40 suspects in the past two months for alleged piracy.

    It said 52 vessels have been impounded for maritime offences in the Lagos area.

    Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Habila Ngalabak, who spoke at a one day seminar on “Maritime offences and procedures for arrest, detention of ships in Nigerian environment”, said the seminar was aimed at educating officers on procedures of arresting, detaining and prosecution of vessels.

    He said: “The seminar is to refresh our minds on the issues of arrest, detention and prosecution of vessels at sea.

    “It could not have come at a better time than this because we are approaching December. So we have to be alive to our duties.

    “We have 52 vessels of different classes and types in our custody for different offences and quite a lot of them are under litigation and investigation. Some are being investigated for us to ascertain the agency to hand them over to for prosecution.”

    Asked the period the vessels were arrested, Ngalabak said he could not supply that information at the moment, adding that the statistics were given from a list compiled overtime.

    “It is a situation that keeps changing. There are some that have been arrested and their cases have been disposed from the list and others are still joining.

    “It takes time for the prosecution to be concluded. So some of them have been there for three to four years.

    “In the last two to three months, we have really had major arrest of maritime offenders which are piracy related offences and within this period we have arrested no fewer than 40 persons for one offence or the other,” he said.

  • Insecurity: Army, DSS, Navy, others hold Show of Force in Southeastern States

    Major streets of the six States under the 82 Division of Nigerian Army (NA) witnessed heavy movement of soldiers and personnel of other sister security agencies including DSS, Air Force and Naval Personnel as they hold a Joint Show of Force (JSOF) operation.

    The Nation gathered that the exercise was said to be in line with the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai’s Vision; “To have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles”.

    Some of the States where the exercise simultaneously held include Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo State respectively.

    A release issued by the 82 Division Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer, Musa Sagir about the military exercise which was obtained by The Nation has it that the exercise was aimed at ensuring that security agencies in the South East Zone, jointly work as a team, to decisively and professionally deal with the complex security situations as they unfold in the zone.

    According to Sagir, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Kabuk in his remarks before the commencement of the exercise in Enugu, Enugu State, stated that the JSOF is simultaneously been conducted in the entire 82 Division Area of Responsibility.

    Sagir quoting Kabuk said “In the face of emerging security challenges and the impending general elections, the need to warn criminals, saboteurs and other trouble makers in our Area of Responsibility to stay clear becomes imperative”. Hence, it is necessary we occasionally and jointly conduct this exercise.”

    Kabuk in the release further made it clear that the JSOF was not targeted at any individual or group, but is meant to send strong signal/warning that anyone who disturbs public peace will be professionally and decisively dealt with.

    According to Sagir, while troops of 13 Brigade conducted the exercise in Calabar Municipality, 8th Mile, Tinapa axis and major streets of the city and adjoining communities, the 34 Brigade Owerri troops and other agencies moved within Owerri metropolis and Okigwe general areas. As their counterparts of 302 Artillery General Support Regiment Onitsha, troops in conjunction with other sister agencies moved around Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha axis.

    In Ebonyi State, troops of 24 Field Engineer Support Regiment marched across Ezzangbo, Ezillo, Ishielu, Ohoazara, Nkalagu and Onicha Communities of along Afikpo road and across major streets of Abakaliki township.

    Our reporter who monitored the exercise in Abia State has it that personnel of Goodluck Jonathan’s Barracks,14 Brigade Army Headquarters, Ohafia, in conjunction with other security agencies such as Road Safety, Civil Defence, Mobile Police Force moved round the state, touching designated places in Aba including Ariaria Market, Alaoji Spare Parts Market, Azikiwe Road, Aba-Owerri Road.

    Other areas covered during the exercise in Abia includes Umuahia city center, Ovim, Uturu, Afara Ukwu (Home of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu), Arochukwu, Akanu in Bende Local Government Council, Amepkwu and Ohafia General Area of Responsibility.

    Our reporter gathered that the movement by the joint security operatives caused pandemonium in Aba and Umuahia respectively as many feared that it was a signal that the much awaited Egwueke (Python Dance) III has just commenced.

    But a source at the 14 Brigade who pleaded not to be mentioned debunked the insinuations, stating that the public shall be notified when Egwueke III will commence.

    The source added that the exercise was preemptive measures by the security agencies to ensure that Abia was safe for people to live and do their businesses and warned any person or group of persons that wish to foment trouble in the state to have a rethink or be ready to face the consequences of their actions as the security agencies would not fold their arms to see some disgruntled elements disrupt the minimal peace achieved in the state by security agencies.

  • Navy hosts Prince of Wales in Lagos

    THE Navy yesterday hosted the Prince of Wales in Lagos in continuation of his three-day business and cultural tour of Nigeria.

    Prince Charles, who arrived at the Naval Dockyard in Victoria Island at 1:46 p.m., was received by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas.

    After being ceremonially received by the Naval chief, The Prince of Wales was taken on a tour around Lagos waters on the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) EKULU.

    The prince was piped on-board by the Commanding Officer NNS EKULU, Commander Andrew Zidon.

    Speaking with reporters after the departure of the prince, Ibas said the visit was an encouragement for the navy.

    “The Nigerian Navy is an offshoot of the Royal Navy and he is also here to see by himself the progress being made with the cooperative support the royal navy has been giving Nigeria,” he said.

    Prince Charles and his entourage had earlier arrived Lagos aboard a B737 aircraft with registration number CS-TFY, which landed at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport at 12.08 p.m.

    He was received by Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Idiat Adebule, officials of the United Kingdom Consulate and security chiefs.

    The prince’s three-day business and cultural tour of Nigeria is also to mark the 75th Anniversary of the British Council in Nigeria.

    Prince Charles had arrived Nigeria on Tuesday alongside his wife, Camilla and were received by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.

    The prince also met with notable traditional rulers as part of efforts to build peace in the Middle Belt and other parts of the country.

  • Navy seizes N46m worth of contraband rice

    Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory, Calabar, have seized 3039 bags of contraband foreign rice worth about N46 million in Bakassi Local Government of Cross River State.

    Read also: Crashing of pump price: Ezekwesili campaign organization blasts PDP, Atiku

    The Commander of NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, who said the seizure is the largest so far by the Navy in the state, vowed that they would not relent in their war against importation of foreign rice.

    He said as part of the fight, they would soon move into the markets to mop up foreign rice.

    Conducting reporters round the seized items at the Government Warehouse, Customs Yard in Calabar, Nwagu said it was smuggled into Nigeria from Cameroon through Effiong Nsung community in Bakassi.

    “The Navy apprehended Lawrence Onaka with 3039 bags of rice. The four trucks used in conveying the rice  alongside four outboard engines and those goods alongside the suspect have been handed over to the officials of the Nigeria Customs Service. The value of the rice is about N46 million,” he said.

    The commander said the Navy has zero tolerance for crimes in the nation’s waterways and will collaborate with sister security agencies to fight them.

  • Navy seizes 275 bags of contraband rice

    •Four suspects arrested

    Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar have impounded a large wooden boat laden with 257 bags of contraband foreign rice, worth about N4.26 million.

    Four suspects were arrested.

    The Commander, NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, who yesterday paraded the suspects and seized items at the NNS Victory jetty in Calabar, said the arrest was made along the Calabar Channel.

    He said the boat laden with the 50kg bags of rice was coming into Calabar from Cameroon.

    The commander, who handed over the items and suspects to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said: “Public enlightenment, especially through the media, should be carried out for Nigerians and their Cameroonian counterparts, who are perpetrating this illicit trade that foreign rice is banned in Nigeria and when you come in, you will lose your money and the people caught will be prosecuted. I want to take this opportunity to reiterate Navy’s commitment in ensuring that the maritime domain is secured and that the Navy is ready to enforce the Federal Government’s policy on ban on importation of rice.

    “I assure you that any way they come in, we must get them and make sure we send them to the appropriate security agencies for prosecution. Therefore, there is need for the public, especially the business community, to know that the best way to do business is not by investing so much in illegality. We are here to ensure that the right thing is done and once any illegality is perpetrated, the Navy will fight against it.”

    The Assistant Controller of Customs, Eastern Marine Command, Calabar, Joshua Omachi, who received the items, said the rice would be transferred to the government warehouse, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted by the legal unit of the Customs.

     

     

  • Navy intercepts 12.8m litres fake diesel in Rivers

    The Nigerian Navy has impounded five barges laden with about 12.8 million litres of petroleum product suspected to be adulterated diesel, an official has said.

    Rear Admiral David Adeniran, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, told newsmen in Onne on Friday that two suspects were arrested in connection with the alleged crime.

    Adeniran said naval troops acting on intelligence trailed the five metallic barges to Yellow Platform in Onne general area before they were intercepted and two men arrested.

    “Troops in the early hours of Thursday during routine patrol and acting on credible intelligence intercepted five large metallic barges carrying petroleum product.

    “The barges laden with products suspected to be illegally refined diesel were intercepted at Onne general area and two male suspects were arrested.’’

    He said the seizure was in compliance with the Chief of Naval Staff’s directives to free the waterways and creeks of illegal bunkers, pipeline vandals, sea pirates and robbers.

    “Our patrol team on boarding the barges discovered that four out of the five barges were laden with products that may have been lifted from illegal refining sites.

    “The metallic barges are very large in capacity and each can take roughly about 3.2 million litres of diesel,’’ he said.

    Adeniran said the navy had launched preliminary investigation into the matter to ascertain sources of the petroleum product, owner and whom it was being delivered to before its seizure.

  • Navy detains 14 suspected oil, diesel smugglers

    The Navy has arrested 14 suspects for allegedly smuggling adulterated diesel and “black oil” to unsuspecting consumers in Rivers State, an official said.

    The Executive Officer of Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, Capt. Samuel Garba, spoke yesterday while parading the 14 suspected smugglers before reporters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    Garba said the suspects were caught while trans-loading adulterated diesel and black oil from 12 large wooden boats into nine 33,000 litre-capacity trucks.

    According to him, the suspects were arrested in three different raids carried out at suspected illegal bunkering sites in Marine Base, Rumuolumeni and Eleme locations.

    He said: “In the first raid on September 16 at Horly Kings Waterfront at Marine base, our patrol team arrested nine suspects while trans-loading petroleum products.

    “They were caught lifting substances believed to be stolen crude oil from eight wooden boats to six trucks stationed within a yard at the waterfront.

    “In addition, a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) stacked with N1.95 million belonging to one of the suspects was confiscated.”

    Garba noted that the troops also arrested one suspect for allegedly trans-loading stolen diesel from two wooden boats to a truck on September 17 around Yesin Waterside area of Rumuolumeni.

    The executive officer said the wooden boats were discharging the adulterated diesel to the truck, which was stationed 100 meters from the site, before the seizure.

    “The third raid was conducted on September 27 around Sand Fill at Eleme. There, we caught four suspects in the act discharging substances suspected to be black oil.

    “The suspects were discharging the petroleum product into two 33,000 litre-capacity truck stationed nearby before their arrest and seizure.

    “Consequently, 14 suspects, 12 wooden boats with products and nine trucks were detained to enable the (naval) base to conduct preliminary investigation,” he added.

    Garba handed over the 14 suspects, diesel and oil to operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to conduct further investigation and possible prosecution of the suspects in court.

  • Unrepentant criminals in the Niger Delta’ll face the law-Navy

    The Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has said it will not spare anyone caught engaging in criminal activities within the Niger Delta waterways.
    Sounding the note of warning on Wednesday, during an inspection tour of the facilities under the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta in Warri, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) , Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, also cited reasons for the decrease in crude oil theft and illegal oil refining in the area.
    Garba, who was taken round the facilities by the Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, noted that society would always have it’s share of bad eggs, but advised those engaging in illegal and criminal activities within the Delta rivers to turn a new leave and seek other legal and peaceful means of livelihood.
    He warned that anyone nabbed in criminality in the waterways would be made to face the law.
    “We are advising them to engage in productive ventures that will enable them make clean money that will allow them live peacefully because these criminals are unable to enjoy whatever illicit gains they make through criminality because they still have to be living in hiding. They should come out, engage in productive and legal ventures because anyone we catch breaking the law will certainly face the law,” he warned.
    Giving reasons why incidences of oil theft and illegal oil refining had reduced in the Central Naval Command’s area of responsibility, Garba said three major security strategies had been useful in containing the area.
    “As you know, crude oil theft and other such criminal activities have reduced as a result of a number of measures put in place, one of which is the permanent operation at sea, which is called Operation Tsare-Teku. Tsare-Teku maintains a number of vessels at sea at all times.
    “The second one is the Swamp bogey operation, whereby we go around demolishing all illegal infrastructure that have been put in place for illegal oil production. The third one is the choke-point regime, in which we have our house boats at strategic points within the inner waterways, which are the backwaters, ensuring there are no illegal movement of any kind of illegally produced products in that general area.
    “We’ve been able to sustain these three and with them we have been able to curtail flow of illicit oil activities in our are of responsibility.”
    The Naval chief said he was in Warri as part of the familiarisation tour of the bases under his command, giving a high recommendation to the NNS Delta, which he described as the most critical security outfit to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
    “I have gone round and I have seen that the personnel are ready, ships are ready to go to sea and some are already at sea, guarding the activities of well meaning users of the seas and also ensuring that criminals engaged in any unlawful activities are arrested and brought to justice,” he said.

  • Navy holds fitness walk for personnel

    Nigerian Navy (NN) operatives in Lagos at the weekend embarked on a 10-km route march to test their physical and mental fitness.

    During the exercise, organised by the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), over a thousand personnel marched from the Naval Base towards the National Stadium and back.

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), NAVTRAC, Rear Admiral Stanford Enoch, said the personnel were physically fit to discharge their duties professionally.

    Enoch, represented by the Chief Staff Officer (CSO), Rear Admiral Chris Ezekobe, said as a training command, NAVTRAC was aware of the security challenges facing the country and would ensure training was tailored to address the problems.

    He said: “We train at the tactical level and most of the personnel you see here today are going back to the field, be it Operation Safe Heaven, Delta Safe and others across the country today.”

    “They are the foot soldiers and it behoves on them to be disciplined and vigilant out there. We are aware that negative elements will always try to use the Armed Forces and other security operatives to rig elections or for any other purpose. So, personnel must be extra vigilant when they go back to the field.

    “My personnel are fit to carry out their duties. They train on a daily basis, in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff’s (CNS’) Strategic Directives.”

  • Navy holds attitudinal change training

    Over 100 naval commissioned officers were yesterday schooled in the importance of having the right attitude and the mindset to work.

    At a two-day workshop with the theme: “Attitudinal change and operational efficiency in the NN”, held at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, the participants were urged to key into the “change begins with me” mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, said non-commissioned officers (NCOs) would be trained today.

    Ibas, represented by the Chief of Naval Transformation (C-TRANS), Rear Admiral Begroy Ibe-Enwo, said: “Our conduct is key to public safety and protection of the society. Once the military fails in a society, it is doomed.

    “This two-day training is to reawaken established values in the personnel. I urge you to continue to do good as officers and contribute your quota to the service of the nation.”