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  • NNS Delta attributes reduced oil theft to personnel’s efforts

    NNS Delta attributes reduced oil theft to personnel’s efforts

    The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta has attributed reduction in crude oil theft and other maritime crime within its areas of operation (AOO) to the collective efforts of its personnel.

    Speaking at a farewell parade organised in his honour at the Warri Naval Base, outgone Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Chindo Yahaya, said despite the challenges during his tenure, achievements, which included destruction of illegal refining sites and arrest of sea robbers, were recorded.

    Yahaya assumed office on May 2, 2023, as the 13th Commander of the NNS Delta.

    He said NNS Delta also participated in clearance operations and exercises, in line with the base’s mandate of securing the maritime environment to enhance economic activities.

    “I am happy to inform you that our collective efforts and commitment have brought about commendable reduction in crude oil theft and other maritime crime.

    “The base anti-crude oil theft operations have recorded success in the destruction of illegal refining sites in our areas of operations.

    “During the period under review, the base destroyed illegal refining sites and storage facilities containing stolen crude oil and illegally-refined Automated Gasoline Oil (AGO).

    “Furthermore, between May 2023 to date, the base patrolled for about 21,630 hours, resulting in the deactivation of illegal refining sites and handling of stolen crude oil,” he stated.

    Yahaya said the anti-crude oil theft unit of the base apprehended suspects with offences bordering on crude oil theft and improper documentations, adding that some vessels were also apprehended and consequently handed over to the anti-graft agency and other relevant authorities for prosecution.

    He said deployment of swamp buggies had discouraged the operations of illegal bunkering in its areas of operations.

    “The last swamp buggy operations we conducted between August 20 and September 23, 2023 recorded about 105,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 18,000 litres of illegally-refined AGO.

    “This is indeed a testament to the laudable performance of this base in the period under review.

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    “For this, I am grateful to the dedication and commitment of officers and ratings of the base. I urge you to extend same and even more to the incoming commander,” he said.

    The outgone commander expressed gratitude to the Delta State Government,  military and para-military agencies within the NNS Delta areas of operations for their support throughout his stay, noting that the inter-agency cooperation and synergy had sustained peace in the area.

    The incoming Commander, Commodore Muhsin Abba, urged NNS Delta personnel to discharge their duties in accordance with the mandate of the Navy.

    “They should be disciplined, obedient, loyal and should not collaborate with anybody that undermines the economic activities of the country.

    “As you know, oil is the mainstay of our economy and anything that will impede the production of oil within our areas of operations is going to be stopped. We will ensure the mandate is pursued to the best of our ability,” Abba said.

    The ceremony featured the signing of handover note, lowering/hoisting of pennant, presentation of unit flag and inauguration of car park at the base.

  • Navy intercepts wooden boat with ‘stolen’ PMS

    Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT have arrested a wooden boat laden with suspected stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    The boat which was arrested around 1am on February 8, at Akaraba Island in Atlas Cove, was paraded before reporters Wednesday by Commander NNS BEECROFT Rear Admiral Okon Eyo.

    Eyo who was represented by the base’s Executive Officer Captain Paul Dogara, said the boat had 1,400 25 litres kegs laden with suspected stolen PMS as well as 27 empty drums and a 5×75HP outboard engine.

    “The estimated suspected stolen PMS is 35,000 litres valued at about N5.75million while the Cotonou boat and the outboard engines are valued at about N15million. The total sum of the arrested boat with its contents is N20.75million.

    “It is to be noted that the Atlas Cove is central to reception and distribution of refined petroleum products to other NNPC depots at Mosimi, Ore, Ibadan and Sagamu areas. Consequently, the facility has become very attractive to vandals, petroleum thieves and pirates among others.

    “The latest arrest by the base represents a major achievement of our constitutional mandate and a setback to the logistics requirements of the criminals.

    “The base will continue to dominate the nation’s waterways in order to prevent the theft of our common wealth,” he said.

  • Navy destroys 1500 illegal refineries in Delta

    The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA has destroyed about 1500 illegal refineries with swamp buggy in the Delta creeks in the last two months.

    The Commander of the ship, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, disclosed this to newsmen in Warri on Wednesday.

    Swamp buggy is an amphibious vehicle used to traverse a swampy terrain.

    Dewu said the destruction exercise was carried out in the creeks of Otumara, Ogbegugu, Okpuku in the Warri creeks.

    He added that personnel of the command were currently on the Bennett Island in Warri South Local Government Area of the state in continuation of the exercise.

    He said that the perpetrators had devised means of preventing the soldiers and the swamp buggy from gaining access to the sites by blocking the entrances with logs or setting fire around the sites.

    The commander, however, said their antics would not deter the soldiers from carrying out their statutory obligation of completely eradicating illegalities in the maritime domain.

    “It takes us time to remove the logs for our men and the swamp buggy to have access but we are determined,” he said.

    He said the criminals’ activities were also contributing to the degradation of the ecosystem.

    “The antics of the criminal elements will not deter us from eradicating the illegality with the aide of swamp buggy which I believe will bring a lasting solution to economic sabotage.

    Read Also: Navy sensitises Delta community against oil theft

    ” We decided to apply swamp buggy because it is more environment friendly and difficult for the perpetrators to resuscitate the illicit business since their facilities are also crushed completely in the process.

    “Apart from that, we also do post-monitoring of the various sites we have destroyed to ensure that the criminals do not return to reactivate them.

    ” So far, the exercise has been successful and we will not rest on our oars until the illegalities are completely eradicated in our maritime domain,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in one of the operations on Bennett Island on June 12, the perpetrators set fire around the vicinity of the illegal refinery to prevent the soldiers from entering.

    The navy personnel then created alternative means for themselves, journalists and the swamp buggy to gain access and therefore, crushed the criminals’ equipment amid thick smoke and rain.

  • Navy urges DSS to hunt sea pirate network in Rivers

    Navy urges DSS to hunt sea pirate network in Rivers

    The Nigerian Navy has called on the Department of State Security ( DSS ) to go after the sponsors of notorious sea pirate network believed to be terrorising costal waterways in Rivers and environs.

    Capt. Victor Choji, the Executive Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship ( NNS ) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt made the call when he handed over five suspected sea pirates to DSS operatives on Wednesday.

    He said aside piracy, the suspects allegedly carried out several kidnappings and robbed vessels as well as innocent commuters and their valuables in the maritime domain of Rivers.

    “The suspects were arrested at various times between October 31, and November 12, following credible intelligence on their involvement in armed robbery at sea, kidnapping and piracy.

    “The suspects have availed us with sufficient information to the extent of their illegal activities within the maritime space of Rivers state.

    “So, we are handing them over to the DSS, so that they can unravel the extent of this network and to also uncover their collaborators and sponsors.

    “We believe that if this is done, then we can nip it (crime) in the bud once and for all, thus bringing peace within the maritime space of Rivers state,” he said.

    Read also: Navy to launch 20 new patrol boats in Delta-Ag.Director

    Choji said the navy had observed that whenever troops destroy illegal refineries and bunkering sites, perpetrators often times mutate to piracy, kidnapping and sea robbery.

    He said the trend was particularly worrisome to the navy but assured that strategic measures had been put in place to tackle the ugly development.

    According to him, the navy has succeeded in reducing illegal bunkering and oil theft to its barest minimum, in collaboration with other security agencies in the state.

    “But, what we are seeing now is actually a mutation of this other crimes to kidnapping and piracy and the likes.

    “However, we have re-strategised, and as such confident that within the shortest times that these crimes at sea would be brought to the barest minimum as well.

    “This will ensure that we have safety and security within the maritime environment for lawful activities to take place,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Navy launches “Octopus Grip” to combat crime in Delta

    The Nigerian Navy Central Naval Command, has launched the Phase Two of it’s “Octopus Grip Exercise” to further combat criminalities in the maritime domain.

    Rear Adm. Bello Al-Hassan,Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, performed the flag-off on Wednesday at the Warri Naval base.

    Al-Hassan said the operation was to consolidate on the successes of the “Operation Rivers Sweep” that was launched by the command in January.

    He said the 11 gunboats from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA had been deployed for the operation, adding that the exercise would be going on simultaneously in other Commands.

    “We started the first phase of the Octopus Grip which is “sea exercise” on Oct. 30 in Onne, we are here to kick-start the phase two which is “riverine operation” in Warri.

    “Eleven gunboats from the NNS DELTA will be used for the exercise and it will be going on simultaneously in other Commands of the Nigerian Navy,” he said.

    The FOC said shortly after the flag-off, the navy proceeded to an illegal refinery camp covering about 30 hectares in Bennett Island in Warri South to destroy some illegal refineries.

    “We have used Swamp boogies to destroy their equipment about two weeks ago and they came back again, we are going to sustain this operation and continue to use Swamp boogies because it is environmental friendly,” he said.

    He said that the Command had identified about 200 illegal camps with a lot of illegal refineries, adding that the exercise would help to further rid the creeks of crude oil theft

    Al-Hassan appealed to the perpetrators to indulge in legal businesses noting that their action was counter-productive  to the economy and the ecosystem.

    “It is going to take a long time for the environment to be useful for meaningful farming, and again, it is also creating a lot of problem to the government in terms of stealing of crude oil,” he said.

    The FOC, however, said that constant use of Swamp boogies and the introduction of Modular refineries later would help to nip the menace in the bud.

    One helicopter was also displayed alongside the 11 gunboats at the Bennett Island.

  • Navy destroys 260 illegal refineries

    Navy destroys 260 illegal refineries

    Officers of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) yesterday destroyed more than 260 illegal oil refineries in the creeks of Warri South council area in Delta state.

    The men also destroyed not less than 5,000 metric tons of stolen crude oil.

    Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Musa Gemu, disclosed these to reporters after a show-of-force exercise through many parts of the riverine Warri.

    Speaking on the operation that destroyed the illegal refineries and stolen crude oil in Otegbene-Agbara community, Bennet Island and Jones Creek, all in Warri South council area,  Gemu said the places touched were new hideouts for oil thieves.

    He noted that the renewed commitment of the navy to combating illicit oil deal was in line with the zero tolerance of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin on illegal bunkering along the waterways.

    Gemu said that since those behind the dastardly act of sabotage have resolved not to stop, the navy has intensified its surveillance operations and destruction exercise along these creeks.

    While lamenting the unrelenting persistence oil thieves, the Navy commander said their activities were not just impacting on the economy and the environment but on the lives of residents in the riverine communities.

    He said: “We (Navy) are particularly concerned that in spite of what the federal government,  NNPC, NDDC,  and DESOPADEC had done and still doing to alleviate the poverty in this region through youth empowerments, job creation and educational up-liftment, some people are just not satisfied.

    “They take to criminal activities as if it’s a way of life and that’s the more reason they indulge themselves in all sorts of criminalities along the creeks.”

    Gemu warned those behind the dastardly act to desist or be prepared to face the music.

     

  • last word: Ugborodo…What can big stick achieve?

    last word: Ugborodo…What can big stick achieve?

    Some days back the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta threatened to wield the big stick against recalcitrant side in the Ugborodo crisis. The crisis recently took a turn for the worse with the various acts of arson carried out against each other by members of the feuding factions, resulting in the destruction of houses and cars worth several millions of naira in both Ugborodo and Warri.

    The recent gale of arsons followed the refusal of members of Aruton quarter of Ugborodo to allow the Navy, led by the Commanding Officer of NNS Delta, Navy Captain Musa Gemu, to return some members of the community who have been displaced, citing the need for the people, whom the community is accusing of leading the invasion of Aruton, to atone for the sacrilege before they could be reabsorbed.

    At a meeting organised by the Navy at the Warri naval base over the weekend, Captain Gemu sounded a note of warning to those working against the implementation of the peace agreement, especially the resettlement of displaced person, not to test the will of the force, giving them a week to sort out the reabsorption disagreement, after which the navy might have to step in to enforce the term.

    “I am sounding it clearly to the elders, leaders and the youths. This is your last chance. You have one week to go home, sit among yourselves and agree to allow displaced persons return home in peace.

    “This is not my personal decision. It is part of the peace accord your leaders on both sides signed with the Federal Government in Abuja. I want to receive a positive feedback at the end of the week. After then, we will not tolerate any more act of lawlessness. It is not the desire of government to apply force. But we would have no other option if you fail to respect peace,” Captain Gemu said.

    Speaking with this writer in Warri, the leader of one of the warring factions, David Tonwe, said nobody would force the community to reabsorb the displaced until they fulfill the rites required of them by Ugborodo tradition, for the atonement of the sacrilege they committed against the community.

    Tonwe warned that an attempt to force the community against the dictates of its customs and traditions would not work well.

    According to him, peace would not be achieved in the community by the use of force, rather the concerned authorities should see to it that the right things were done in the matter.

    “Some other people have gone through the same process before; the Olaja-Orori went through it, the Eghara-Aja went through. Nobody is above the law and tradition. You are dealing with military people and military people don’t care about whatever you say. What they are saying now is that we want peace and let me tell you, that is where we have problem in this country; the process of achieving peace is not by force, it’s by dialoguing, it’s by negotiation, it’s by discussing.

    “Even in the meeting at the naval base, an elderly man stood up, Abeokutan Anderson, and told the naval chief that these people have committed a crime, which is a sacrilege and they need to go and appease the gods of Ugborodo community and they shouted him down there, saying the issue was not for there. You cannot use force, except you want to kill everybody. You are now trying to use force, imposing people so that they can forget about their culture and tradition.

    “If they want peace, let them follow that process; we don’t even need a naval man to take them back to the community, we don’t need any force to bring them to the community. It is our own custom and tradition,” he said.

    Chief Emami  with Tonwe’s absence at the last meeting, it is clear ehere the problem is.

    “We are aware that Aruton and Magangho where the violent youths were resisting Navy from resettling displaced persons, are not our stronghold. So, when those who these youths are loyal to continuously stay away from meetings like this, it tells where the problem lies,” he said.

    With Tonwe rejecting the meeting’s resolution and the one-week ultimatum expiring this weekend , trouble seems ahead. But can wielding the big stick bring about the much-needed peace? It does not look so.

  • ‘Fed Govt equipping navy’

    ‘Fed Govt equipping navy’

    Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin has said the Federal Government was increasing its equipment to combat oil theft and other criminal activities bedevilling the nation’s oil industry.

    Vice Admiral Jibrin spoke when he visited the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta in Warri, Delta State.

    He said the navy, under his watch, had arrested 38 vessels for illegal activities on Nigerian waters.

    The naval chief, who was accmpanied by the commander of the NNS Delta, Musa Gemu, said the Federal Government had made heavy investments into helping the navy discharge its statutory duties.

    Two military vessels are expected from China, one of which is due to arrive in the country before August and another one donated by the United States Navy, which is also expected to arrive by August.

  • Navy arrest five oil thieves, destroy 260 illegal refineries in Warri

    Navy arrest five oil thieves, destroy 260 illegal refineries in Warri

    Not less than five suspected oil thieves were arrested yesterday by the men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) in Delta, during an operation in Oteghele Phases 1 and 2 some in Warri South-West council area of Delta state.

    The naval men also destroyed about 260 illegal oil refineries as well as more than 100,000 metric tons of illegally refined AGO (diesel) during the operation led by the commander of the NNS Delta, Navy Captain Musa Gemu.

    Speaking to journalists after the operation, Gemu said the operation was prompted by an intelligence report on the activities of the oil thieves in the isolated location, adding that what he saw on site was amazing.

    Speaking further, Gemu said his command would continue to fight the war against the oil theft menace, adding that those arrested would be handed over to the proper security agency for prosecution.

    “Based on intelligence information I had, we had to plan to get to an objective area and fortunately I was right on target, what I saw there was amazing. You imagine destroying illegally refined AGO from underground task with quantity above 100,000 metric tons. We have destroyed over 250 illegal refineries and like I said, it is a continuous process, we will not rest. If they will not rest, we will not rest.

    “Over 260 illegal refineries were destroyed, five arrests made, two flying boats, one small generator, two pumping machines. Those arrested will be handed over to the EFCC as the Navy does not prosecute,” Gemu said.

    The arrested suspects were Alice Bozimo, Patti Zutu, Fidelis Arekumo and Abraham Joseph.

    Besides the arrest of the five persons, and the destruction of illegal refineries and illegally refined products, the operation also recovered one small generator, two flying boats and two pumping machines.

  • 19 naval officers decorated in Lagos

    The Western Naval Command (WNC) of the Nigerian Navy (NN, yesterday decorated 19 of its officers that were promoted by the Headquarters.

    Five Captains were elevated to the rank of Commodore; six Commanders moves to Captains and eight Lieutenant Commanders to Commanders.

    The commodores (Army’s equivalent of Brigadier General), are Esther Ogbonnaya; R.O. Mohammed; Abidemi Ayinde; Baribuma Kole and J.I. Ogazi.

    At the ceremony, which held at the auditorium of the NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos, were the Flag Officers Commanding (FOC), WNC and Naval Training Commands (NAVTRAC), Rear Admirals Ibok-Ette Ibas and Goddy Anyankpele, the Chief Security Officer, WNC, Rear Admiral J.K.Z. Ango and the Fleet Commander West, Rear Admiral LON Iwuoha.

    Addressing the officers, Rear Admiral Ibas, urged them to rise up to the responsibility of the new ranks.

    He said: “I congratulate you for making the list of those the NN and the Armed Forces considered worthy of wearing the new ranks.

    “You must rise up to the responsibility of the new rank you have been bestowed with. We expect the best from you especially as we are aware of the current security challenges facing the nation.

    “As officers, you have been entrusted with protecting the nation’s maritime domain from external aggression as well as other criminal activities going on in that purview.”

    Speaking on behalf of the officers, Commodore Ogbonnaya, pledged to intensify their efforts in carrying out their constitutional roles.