The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Navy

  • Yuletide: Navy reads riot act to criminals in Abia and environs

    The Nigerian Navy School of Finance and Logistics Owerrinta in Abia State has issued a stern warning to criminals in the state to stay clear from the state during the Yuletide period or have themselves to blame as they are fully prepared to face them.

    Speaking with newsmen during the 4th quarter of the quarterly route match at the naval base at Owerrinta, the commandant of the school, Navy Captain Abdullahi Aminu, said that the navy in the state is prepared to face any challenges that criminals will come up with.

    Capt Aminu said that the route match is mainly to ensure the physical fitness and combatant readiness of the officers and men of the school, stressing that apart from learning that the naval men in the state are also security ready at all times to secure life and property of the people of the state.

    The Abia naval boss thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for providing them with the necessary equipment especially with the inauguration of three new naval ships, saying that with such gesture that it will go a long way in boosting the moral of the officers and men of the navy.

    The school commandant said that with the new equipment provided by Mr President that the issue of maritime piracy will soon be a thing of the past as the navy will ensure proper and adequate use of the materials to put a stop to such nefarious activities along the water ways.

    He commended the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok, for his foresight in ensuring that the best equipment are provided for his officers and men to work, “We want to assure him that we are ready to defend the country and any where we may find ourselves at all times.”

  • Navy to reintroduce training for artisans

    Navy to reintroduce training for artisans

    Plans are underway by the Nigerian Navy (NN) to reintroduce apprentice training for welders, fitters and other local artisans whose services are necessary for ship maintenance.
    The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, spoke yesterday at the opening of NN Engineering Seminar at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos.
    Ibas noted that lack of trained and skilled manpower was part of the challenges of the Navy, adding that efforts were on to address the shortcomings.
    He said the Navy would partner with relevant training institutions to get the right manpower so that its fleet could be adequately maintained.
    He said: “There was a time Naval Dockyard had a training facility for apprentice training school to develop adequate manpower for personnel and civilian populace.
    “Fitters, welders and skilled personnel were trained in the school. He has posited the need to go back to that era, put back the apprentice school and then, partner with other training institutions and facilities to get the right manpower to be able to maintain our fleet.”
    On how the Navy plans to meet its needs in light of dwindling resources and poor budgetary allocation, Ibas said the service was looking inwards to see how best to develop capacities that could generate funds.
    The CNS noted that prevailing operational realities necessitated the seminar, adding that the NN was presently more challenged than ever “by multi-faceted monstrous threats from all flanks in her operational space, which also coincides with the country’s indispensable resource base…”
    “The efforts of the NN to square up with these challenges have seen her embarking on ambitious capacity upgrade to include an aggressive fleet reactivation and recapitalisation.
    “The NN fleet expansion programme has led to the resuscitation of many hitherto non-operational platforms and injection of several new ones, including capital ships and over hundred boats through a two-prong programme of local production and foreign acquisition. It is, however, expedient that the platforms are not only provided, but remain available. This requires the NN to support the fleet with first-rate maintenance.
    “Against the fact that any accomplishment can only come on the back of a sound technical manpower, the service has religiously sustained both general and specialist training, breaking new training frontiers in the process,” Ibas said.

  • Navy on high alert for criminals in maritime sector

    The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas has ordered all naval formations in the country to maintain the highest level of readiness to ensure safety in the maritime sector during the holidays and beyond.

    The Nigerian Navy said it is aware of the desperation of criminally minded people to perpetuate crimes in the maritime domain thereby undermining legitimate economic activities. It also urges Nigerians to be vigilant on the activities of fake naval personnel who create security breaches urging citizens to promptly report impostors and
    other criminals to the nearest Naval formation.

    The Director of Navy Public Relations, Commodore Christian Ezekobe in a release made available in Abuja urged Nigerians to go about their lawful duties without fear.

    Ezekobe also said a Service patrol team deployed from Forward Operating Base (FOB) BONNY under the maritime component of OPs DELTA SAFE on December 2, 2016  descended heavily on illegal refinery owners.  The patrol  team discovered and destroyed  four illegal refineries set up at Ijawkiri in Rivers state while five persons were
    arrested in connection with the sites.

    Other  items destroyed are five Cotonou boats laden with products suspected to be crude oil and another Cotonou boat loaded with several drums of illegally refined AGO. Also, 12 tanks laden with illegally AGO and six tanks laden with products suspected to be crude oil were destroyed. The suspects arrested in connection with the illegal
    refineries would be handed over to relevant security agency for further action.

  • Navy destroys militant camps

    Navy destroys militant camps

    •Arrests suspects

    The Navy has dismantled some active militant camps and arrested some suspected militants, including oil thieves in Bayelsa State.
    The destruction of active militant and illegal refining camps in the creeks of the state was part of the many operations in the Exercise Eagle Eye (EEE).
    They were carried out in the Niger Delta region by the Navy from Thursday till yesterday.
    A team of senior naval officers by the Chief of Naval Staff including Director Doctrine, Naval Doctrine and Assessment Centre, Commodore Vincent Okeke, was on ground to appraise the operational capabilities of the command in the state.
    The operations were conducted by the Nigerian Naval Ship SOROH, Yenagoa, the Foreword Operational Base (FOB), Formoso, Brass and the navy’s special force and Flaming Warriors from Abuja and Lagos State.
    The forces stormed different creeks in the region destroying militant camps, illegal refineries and arresting suspected sea robbers and militants.
    In one of the operations led by the Commanding Officer, Formoso, Capt. Mayowa Olukoya, at about 2am last Friday, the forces nabbed four suspected sea robbers.
    The suspects were said to have terrorised traders and residents of some riverine communities in the state.
    They confessed being behind some attacks on traders and residents of communities along the waterways.
    The suspected hoodlums, who gave their names as Messrs. Lucky Abraham, Enatimi Peter, Gift Monday and Felix Nathan, also said they were working for one militant, identified as Thomas.
    They further said that they threw some of their weapons such as a pump action rifle, AK47 rifle and a radio walkie talkie into the river when being pursued by the navy.
    They were later apprehended at Masunkiri, some kilometres away from FOB Formoso, in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
    The Commander NNS Soroh, Commodore Habib Usman, described the Exercise Eagle Eye as the annual sea inspection operation by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas.
    He said the exercise was aimed at enhancing maritime security in the territorial waters.
    Usman, who led the exercise in the state, said that the suspects were giving the Navy useful information to help in tracking other criminals in their camps.
    He implored the Niger Delta youths to embrace peace, seek legitimate businesses and shun all forms of illegalities.

  • Community seeks end to vandalism at Navy’s medical mission

    Community seeks end to vandalism at Navy’s medical mission

    The Etegwe community in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was thrilled when a team of medical experts led by the Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy arrived at their town hall.

    It was the turn of the community to benefit from the medical benevolence of the navy, which has become a life-saver in Bayelsa and other Niger Delta states.

    The medical intervention by the navy was timely. The economy was hard for most of them, who, though had no money to visit hospitals, silently nursed their sicknesses.

    Little wonder the residents took advantage of the opportunity offered them by the navy. The town hall soon became congested as people trooped in to report their health complaints to health personnel. All categories of people came to receive cure for their ailments.

    The naval team led by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), CNC, Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba was prepared. The team came with cartons of quality drugs, medical equipment and an ambulance.

    Dr. Jennifer Odjegba and other medical experts in the team had a busy period listening and addressing many health issues and prescribing appropriate drugs for them.

    Since he took over the command, Graba has demonstrated passion for cordial military-civilian relationship in line with the objectives of the Chief of Naval Staff. The FOC has won the respect and admiration of communities within the Area of Responsibility (AoR) of the CNC.

    Following the care displayed by the Navy, the traditional ruler of Etegwe community, King Todumema Geoffrey, was moved to call on youths and other persons disturbing the peace of the Niger Delta to turn a new leaf.

    The monarch urged youths to desist from pipeline vandalism and destruction of critical national assets, saying that such tendencies would not bring development to the Niger Delta region.

    “We want to appreciate the Navy for the gesture. I want to warn those involved in blowing up pipelines and other criminal activities to desist from such acts. We need development in our region,” he said.

    The monarch further said the free medical mission was the first in the history of the community. “We are very happy to be remembered for this kind of exercise. This is the first in the history of Etegwe community”, he said.

    Also speaking, the youth leader, Mr. Ken Godwin reminded those disturbing the peace of the region of the fact that violence has not paid off anywhere in the world.

    Garba, on his part, asked the people to embrace and respect the ongoing dialogue between the region and the Federal Government.

    He said: “I expect the people to remember that struggle is not drawing a line and make it look like a kind of crusading spirit. There must be ways of reaching compromises and concessions.

    “And you can only reach those compromises and concessions through dialogue. The government has already given room for dialogue, so let them embrace it. If they embrace it, it is better for the society and Nigeria at large.

    “But if they refuse to go into dialogue, there might be a tendency that that sympathy they are gaining from the people will be lost and it means they are now surrendering the call for peace to chaos and violence which is not good for the society.”

    He explained that the free medical rhapsody was part of the Navy’s corporate social responsibilities aimed at boosting civil-military relations.

    He noted that the medical mission was one of the key priorities of the Chief of Naval Staff to bring the navy closer to the people within the maritime environment.

    He said the free medical mission was carried out monthly to test and treat health challenges of the people. Such health challenges, he said include malaria, typhoid fever, high blood pressure and diabetes, among others.

    Garba said: “It will be delightful to let you know that today is the sixth time we are offering free medical services to communities in Yenagoa and its environs. The CNS is instrumental to the sustenance of this rhapsody every month.

    “Navy is a part and parcel of the community. We feel we are blood brothers. So, one Nigeria is a vital issue to all the military personnel. That is why we feel that we must have a way of reaching out to the communities through the medical rhapsody and inauguration of projects.”

     

  • Navy destroys boats, illegal refineries in Niger Delta

    Navy destroys boats, illegal refineries in Niger Delta

    The Navy yesterday destroyed suspected illegal refineries and stolen crude oil products in Niger Delta.
    Its operatives attached to the Forward Operation Base (FOB) at Bonny were said to have raided Bolo and adjoining creeks, where they destroyed 12 illegal refinery sites and six Cotonou boats conveying suspected stolen crude oil.
    It was gathered that they also destroyed 20 tanks laden with suspected illegally refined AGO (diesel), three barges conveying suspected stolen crude oil, six crude oil laden tanks, a speedboat filled with AGO and uncovered 10 wells used for storing crude oil.
    Also, operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder during a patrol around Wakama village in Onne destroyed a wooden boat laden with suspected illegally refined AGO.
    The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, said FOB Escravos raided an illegal refinery site at Tipo village in Warri, Delta State.
    He said: “During the raid, illegal refinery site and two large Cotonou boats laden with unspecified quantity of suspected stolen crude oil as well as 100 Jerry cans of illegally refined AGO were destroyed.
    “The Navy reiterates its strong resolve to continue the current clampdown, in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff’s zero tolerance for crude oil theft and other related crimes in the maritime domain.”

  • Navy proscribes six maritime security outfits

    Navy proscribes six maritime security outfits

    •Suspects arrested 

    The Nigerian Navy (NN) has begun a crackdown on unauthorised naval security outfits, announcing the proscription of six agencies operating such illegal groups.
    The outfits include: Nigerian Merchant Marine, Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps, Global College of Marine and Technology, Merchant Navy Maritime Academy as well as Nigeria Merchant Navy and Maritime Law Enforcement Agency.
    NN Director of Public Information Commodore Christian Ezekobe, in a statement, said the activities of the impostors have caused several cases of security breaches and criminal activities.
    He said the fake naval personnel have continued to intimidate, harass and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
    Ezekobe said several arrests have been made by the Navy and other sister security organisations, including one Mr. Allen Benson Edema, who was arrested on Friday, October 18, within the precinct of the National Assembly, Abuja.
    Edema was arrested dressing in the uniform and accoutrement of a naval commodore (equivalent to a Brigadier General) with another suspect, who was also dressed up in naval uniform.
    Edema is alleged to be the arrow head of a fake maritime security organisation called Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps, which has also been proscribed.
    Another six persons were arrested by operatives of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry on November 15 for impersonating as personnel of the Nigerian Navy.
    The suspects, who were arrested at Dadi Village in Badagry Local Government Area (LGA), Lagos State, dressed in naval uniform with rank badges of the Nigerian Navy.
    They claimed to be members of another proscribed Maritime security organisation called Nigerian Merchant Marine.
    The Navy spokesperson said the activities of the proscribed organisations have posed great danger to the efforts of the Navy to mitigate security challenges in the country.
    Ezekobe added: “In view of the fragile security situation in the country, particularly in the Niger Delta area, the activities of these illegal and proscribed maritime security organisations have posed great danger to the efforts by the Nigerian Navy and sister security services to mitigate the security challenges in the country.
    “Consequently, operatives of the Nigerian Navy in conjunction with other security agencies have maintained red alert vigilance to ensure that the naval impostors are promptly apprehended.
    “To this end, the general public is advised to kindly report suspicious behaviour of anyone or group of persons who claim to be personnel of the Nigerian Navy or found to be dressed in naval uniform and accoutrements.
    “The Nigerian Navy hereby resolves to deal decisively with anyone who might be contemplating to test the will of the service in checkmating activities of criminal gangs and impostors in the maritime domain.”

  • Navy to Niger Delta: respect dialogue

    The Navy has advised Niger Delta residents, especially militants in the creeks, to embrace and respect the dialogue between the region and the Federal Government.

    Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command (CNC) Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba spoke at the weekend when he led a medical outreach to Etegwe community in Yenagoa Local Government of Bayelsa State.

    Garba noted that if militants failed to embrace dialogue and continued with their criminal activities, they would lose public sympathy.

    The FOC said the free medical rhapsody was part of Navy’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) to boost civil-military relations.

    He said: “I expect the people to remember that the struggle is not drawing a line and making it look like a kind of crusading spirit. There must be ways of reaching compromises and concessions.

    “You can only reach those compromises and concessions through dialogue. The government has already given room for dialogue; so, let them embrace it. If they embrace it, it is better for the society and Nigeria.

    “But if they refuse to go into dialogue, there might be a tendency that that sympathy they are gaining from the people will be lost. It means they are now surrendering the call for peace to chaos and violence, which is not good for the society.”

  • Navy to Niger Delta: respect dialogue

    Navy to Niger Delta: respect dialogue

    The Nigerian Navy has asked the Niger Delta region especially militants still operating in the creeks to embrace and respect the ongoing dialogue between the region and the Federal Government.

    The Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, (CNC), Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, spoke at the weekend when he led a medical outreach to Etegwe community, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    Garba argued that if militants failed to embrace dialogue and continued with their criminal activities, they would lose public sympathy.

    He explained that the free medical rhapsody was part of the Navy’s corporate social responsibility aimed at boosting civil-military relations.

    Garba said: “I expect the people to remember that struggle is not drawing a line and make it look like a kind of crusading spirit. There must be ways of reaching compromises and concessions.

    “And you can only reach those compromises and concessions through dialogue. The government has already given room for dialogue, so let them embrace it. If they embrace it, it is better for the society and Nigeria at large.

    “But if they refuse to go into dialogue, there might be a tendency that that sympathy they are gaining from the people will be lost and it means they are now surrendering the call for peace to chaos and violence which is not good for the society.”

    He noted that the medical mission was one of the key priorities of the Chief of Naval Staff to bring the navy closer to the people within the maritime environment.

    He said the free medical mission was carried out monthly to test and treat health challenges of the people such as malaria, typhoid fever, high blood pressure, diabetes, among others.

    Garba said:  “It will be delightful to let you know that today is the sixth time we are offering free medical services to communities in Yenagoa and environs. The CNS is instrumental to the sustenance of this rhapsody every month.

    “Navy is a part and parcel of the community. We feel we are blood brothers. So, one Nigeria is a vital issue to all the military personnel. That is why we feel that we must have a way of reaching the communities though this medical rhapsody and inauguration of projects.”

    In his response, the Paramount Ruler of Etegwe community, King  Todumema Geoffrey,  said the free medical mission was the first in the history of the community.

    The monarch asked youths to desist from pipeline vandalism and destruction of critical national assets, saying that such tendencies would not bring development to the Niger Delta region.

    “We want to appreciate the Navy for the gesture. I want to warn those involved in blowing up pipelines and other criminal activities to desist from such acts. They are uncalled for. We need development in our region,” he said.

  • NIMASA, Navy arrest 16 stowaways on U.S.-bound vessel

    Search and Rescue personnel of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy have apprehended 16 stowaways on a U.S.-bound vessel, “MV Colombia River’’.

    According to the Head, Corporate Communications Team of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, the arrest was carried out on Friday Nov. 4, 2016, at the Lagos Fairway Bouy.

    She said the arrest was sequel to a distress signal sent to the Regional Search and Rescue Coordination Centre based in NIMASA,

    Tumaka said the centre, in turn, alerted the Nigerian Navy.

    “The Navy immediately sent its vessel `NNS Karaduwa’ to the location of `MV Colombia River’ where 16 stowaways were apprehended and one of them sustained an injury on the shoulder while attempting to escape arrest.

    “The injured stowaway was immediately taken away by the NIMASA Search and Rescue team on its vessel `NIMASA Benue’ to the agency’s Search and Rescue Base Clinic for treatment.

    “The others were taken away by the Navy for profiling and subsequent hand over to the security agencies for further investigation,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes her as saying.

    Tumaka said the crew of the Hong Kong flagged vessel, had originally thought that they were under attack by armed pirates.

    According to her, preliminary investigation showed that the persons on board the vessel were only intruders who hid in the vessel to leave Nigeria in search of greener pastures in the U.S.

    “The stowaways, who included a Liberian national, are in custody and will be handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for further action.

    “It will be recalled that piracy and related activities have drastically reduced in Nigerian waters as a result of the combined efforts of the Nigerian Navy, NIMASA and other stakeholders with Lagos ac