Navy promises safer waterways, delivers seized drums of diesel to A’Ibom Civil Defence

The Nigerian Navy has restated its determination to sanitise the waterways for hitch-free legitimate maritime activities.

Its Commanding Officer for Forward Operation Base (FOB), Ibaka in Mbo Local Council of Akwa Ibom State, Captain Peter Yilme, renewed the pledge yesterday while handing over 316 impounded drums of illegal Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) popularly known as diesel at Agbani Offshore to the Assistant Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bodinga Bawa, at Ibaka.

He vowed that the force would not stop at arresting merchants of illegal businesses, advising them to embrace lawful endeavours.

Yilme explained that the products were confiscated on March 8, 2020 at about 0400 hours during a routine patrol by naval gunboats as they were being conveyed to Cameroun.

He added that on sighting the warships, occupants of the medium-sized wooden immediately abandoned the ferry.

The commandant commended the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, for providing the necessary logistics to the base for the anti-smuggling crusade.

Again, Yilme noted that without the support of the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral David Adeniran, his formation would fail in achieving its operational mandate.

His words: “I hand over 316 drums of illegal refined AGO (containing 300 litres each) today, March 12, 2020 to Assistant Commandant of Corps, Bodinga Bawa, of the NSCDC. The arrest was made on March 8, 2020 at about 0400 hours at Agbani Offshore during routine patrol by FOB Ibaka gunboats. The suspects abandoned the medium-sized wooden boat used in attempting to convey the product to the Republic of Cameroun.

“The unrelenting drive by smugglers in continuing their illicit acts persists even though FOB Ibaka continues to make arrests almost on a daily basis.

“Despite the persistence of illegal smugglers, FOB Ibaka will not relent in its efforts to rid the waterways within its area of operations of all forms of criminal activities in order for legitimate economic activities to strive.

“I strongly warn and advise those into the illicit trade to turn a new leaf and embrace legitimate business activities.”

Responding, Bawa applauded the naval base for keeping faith with the border closure policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.