Navy Intensifies Offensive Against Piracy, Oil Theft in Cross River
The Nigerian Navy has vowed to intensify operations against piracy, sea robbery, crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, smuggling and other forms of maritime criminality in Cross River State.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chiedozie Okehie, made this known on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the maiden three-day Intra-Command Maritime Tactical Live Firing Exercise, codenamed Exercise Littoral Fury, held in the state.
Okehie said the exercise was designed to expose naval personnel to realistic operational scenarios and enhance their capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging maritime security threats.
He added that the exercise would strengthen joint operations and coordination among security agencies operating within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
According to him, the littoral environment presents unique operational challenges that require specialised skills, appropriate tactics, effective communication and seamless coordination among security agencies.
The FOC further said the Eastern Naval Command had continued to deploy technology, innovation and intelligence-driven operations to improve its capacity to detect, prevent and respond to maritime crimes.
Representing the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, said the exercise demonstrated the Navy’s operational readiness, tactical agility and discipline.
Ibrahim said the exercise was part of efforts to build a modern, agile and professional naval force capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests and supporting the country’s national security objectives.
He explained that the exercise enabled participating gunboats, air assets and operational units to test their weapon systems, strengthen inter-service communication and validate joint littoral manoeuvre doctrines.
He stressed that realistic and rigorous training was essential to maintaining maritime dominance and ensuring that naval personnel remained prepared for operational assignments.
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“Rigorous training and realistic operational drills are not optional activities. They are the prize of maritime dominance,” he said.
Ibrahim also highlighted the strategic importance of holding the exercise at Dayspring Island, noting that the area was formerly one of the major militant camps in the region but was now occupied by the Nigerian Navy.
He said the Navy’s presence would enhance the protection of lives and property while stimulating commercial activities around the Calabar and Dayspring channels and waterways extending towards Cameroon.
“By the presence of the Navy here, it’s going to increase commerce; it will provide safety of lives and property,” he said.
The naval commander added that improved security would boost public confidence, facilitate legitimate commercial activities and potentially increase government revenue.
He said the exercise also provided personnel with an opportunity to train with a range of weapons, from 9mm pistols to automatic grenade launchers, while simulating operational scenarios encountered during maritime patrols.
Ibrahim urged the participating personnel to apply the lessons and skills acquired during the exercise to their routine patrols and other operational duties.
Also speaking, Navy Captain Mohammed Lawal commended the leadership of the Eastern Naval Command and the participating personnel for the successful conduct of the exercise.
Lawal said the exercise demonstrated tactical and operational readiness, precision marksmanship and the Navy’s capacity for maritime power projection across land and sea environments.
He also commended the sister services, security agencies, exercise umpires, local organisers and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force’s 305 Special Mobility Group for their contributions to the success of the exercise.
According to him, participating officers and ratings demonstrated proficiency in weapon handling, physical endurance and tactical discipline throughout the exercise.
The Navy said the operational lessons from the exercise would further strengthen its capacity to secure Nigeria’s waterways and protect legitimate maritime activities against criminal threats.
By PRNigeria
