Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir, has disclosed that the command impounded over 30 vessels and countless number of boats for oil theft.
Abdulkadir stated this at the parade ground of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory in Calabar after quarterly parade march along major roads in the metropolis.
According to Abdulkadir, the arrests were made within the maritime domain of the Eastern Naval Command and it involved several suspects who are currently being prosecuted for crime.
“We have also destroyed so many illegal refineries in the command and there are many more breakthroughs that will be achieved.” The FOC said, “In the aspect of oil theft, there had been a lot that the Nigerian Navy has done. Between September and now, no fewer than 30 vessels and countless boats have been arrested for oil theft while several persons have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
He also disclosed that the joint operations between the Navy, Army and Air Force had continued to yield positive results towards addressing security challenges in the maritime domain.
Specifically, Abdulkadir noted that the drafting of aircraft to monitor the creeks in the South-South region of the country would further help to secure the maritime domain.
“There had also been so many joint operations within the military, which is more like an in-house thing. We are collaborating with the Nigerian Air Force towards providing air surveillance of our maritime environment.
“The patrol aircraft from the Air Force is one facility that has been on ground. On various occasions, they have had cause to fly to the riverine environment in addition to our surveillance and this has assisted us in addressing certain issues towards securing our maritime domain,” he said.
Speaking on the road march which featured over 500 naval personnel on a 10-kilometre walk in the major streets of Calabar, Abdulkadir said the exercise would boost fitness.
He said, “This road march, to me, is a socio-military activity. It gives us the opportunity to come together because it is rare to see 500 naval personnel gathered in one place and exercising- that is for the social aspect.
“Now, for the fitness aspect, it makes nearly all of us to be alert and be able to perform our duties. It is also a way of telling the public that we are around and ready to perform our duties at every opportunity.”
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