In response to the upsurge in piracy and other criminal activities in
the Niger Delta region of the country, the Navy friday launched a
massive operation to ensure effective security of the maritime sector of
the nation.
The operation, which is code-named ‘Operation Tsare Teku’, is
coming barely 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari issued a strong
warning to deal decisively with the trouble makers in the region in the
same manner the federal government is tackling the Boko Haram
terrorists.
The Navy also indirectly accused former Niger Delta war-lord,
Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo of masterminding the resurgence in
militancy in the Niger Delta.
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas who spoke
at a press briefing in Abuja, said that he had set up the Task Force
Committee (headed by a Commodore) to handle the operation aimed at
clearing the nation’s territorial waters of criminals.
Ibas who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations
(CTOP), Nigerian Navy (NN), Rear Adm. Henry Babalola, disclosed that
seven Nigerian Naval Ships (NNS) would be involved in the operations.
He said that four had been deployed and they are: NNS Okpabana, NNS
Kyanwa, NNS Sagbama, and NNS Andoni, while the remaining three naval
ships would join the operation later on. These are NNS Centenary, NNS
Burutu, and NNS Zaria.
The CNS said that the nation’s economy was feeling the bite of the
piracy and other related criminal activities in the maritime area.
He
warned that no serious country would tolerate the sabotage of the vital
sectors of its economy and vowed that the region would be cleared of
all criminal activities.
“As you are all aware, the jugular of the Nigeria economy is at the
maritime area of Niger Delta. So, when we noticed an infringement in
that area, it affects the economy of the nation.
“The CNS has inaugurated Operation Tsare Teku to clear the area of
these miscreants. It’s to be headed by a Senior Flag Officer in the rank
of Commodore,” he said.
Speaking further, Ibas observed that the criminal activities
increased after some former Niger Delta militant leaders were declared
wanted, in addition to the fact that the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) would soon end.
Even though, the Naval Chief did not mention names, his description
of the major suspect behind the criminal activities pointed towards
Tompolo, who has been declared wanted by the Federal Government.
coastal areas of the country, collaboration with other neighbouring countries and international partners.
He disclosed that the NN recorded one of the biggest naval successes
in the rescue of a Naval Ship Maximus, which was hijacked off the
Ivoirian coast.
“We have arrested the pirates that hijacked the Maximus. We want to
tell you that it was hijacked off the Coast of Cote D’Ivoire and we were
alerted by the US and pursued it towards the tail end of Sao Tome &
Principe. It was a big success that some countries were amazed that we
could pull off such feat,” he said.
The CNS stated that the Navy has measures in place to arrest the
situation, having identified the two major hotspots in Brass and Bonny
in Bayelsa and Rivers States respectively.
He said: “There is no nation in the world that will allow this to
happen in its maritime domain. It’s not as if the Navy has not been
doing anything all this while to secure our maritime environment. This
is because we have had more ships in the maritime area than any other
time. However, since January 14, 2016, we have had increased pirates
activities and ship hijacks.
“In every society, we have criminal activities. However, you must
note that up until January 11, 2016, we have had zero criminal
activities but from January 14, this changed.
“Meanwhile, you are well aware that some persons were declared wanted
(Tompolo) and we promised some actions. You know that it was no longer
business as usual and coupled with the facts that the Amnesty programme
is about winding up. So these criminal elements might have gone back to
their activities.”
“The major thing is that the criminal groups have regrouped. We have
localised these problems at two major areas, offshore Brass and offshore
Bonny. These are two major areas we have been having the challenges,”
he said.
The
Naval Chief, while noting that Buhari’s pronouncement is for a larger
military operations, clarified that the current operation was a purely
NN initiative in line with its rules of engagement and scope of
activities.
“This is not totally divorced from the matching orders the President
gave but it is part of our statutory role. The order from Mr. President
is for the whole armed forces. It’s not the kind of blind response to
the Presidential pronouncement as we are guarded by rules of
engagement,” he clarified.
Ibas also said that the Navy had been up to the task in policing the
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