The Naval Outpost in Onitsha located at Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State has brought back life to the coastal line of the commercial city as the Navy has continued to maintain security along the waterways in the lower River Niger and its environs in line with the mandate establishing the outpost.
The Commanding Officer, Naval Outpost Onitsha, Navy Captain Mike Oamen, who disclosed this while briefing journalists on the handing over of suspects and exhibits to appropriate authorities in his office, said that the activities of the outpost included boat patrols along the River Niger, and all adjoining waterways from Lokoja to Onitsha.
This is in addition to complementing other security agencies in internal security operations in Anambra State.
According to him, the Naval outpost patrol covers both the upstream and downstream sectors of the lower River Niger.
“This includes stop and search, anti-illegal bunkering, interrogation of ownership of suspicious vessels, prevention of illegal dredging activities around the pillars of River Niger Bridge and enforcing non-movement of vessels between sunset and sunrise.
“These patrols have achieved a level of success in recent times with the arrest of persons and vessels engaged in illegal activities. Some of the modest achievements recorded of recently include the arrest on 13 and 15 November 2014,” he said.
Captain Oamen noted that the suspects and exhibits were arrested following a tip off from a reliable source on November 13, when a naval patrol was dispatched to a location close to the site of the construction of the second Niger Bridge.
The patrol team discovered that some men were engaged in an illegal operation of bunkering of petroleum products.
On sighting the naval patrol, the men hurriedly abandoned their activities and jumped into a waiting boat and escaped.
However, they abandoned a ford bus with registration number APP 39 XK loaded with 13 drums (200 liters) of AGO with a driver who was caught unaware sleeping in the vehicle.
The bus and the driver were subsequently detained in the base for further investigation.
He disclosed that without prejudice to the outcome of the investigation, the products were believed to be petroleum products from an illegal refinery, saying that the activities of operators of illegal refineries are detrimental to the environment and economy of the nation in general.
“Similarly, on November 15, 2014, at about 0233 hours, a naval patrol on routine inspection of the various beach landings along the River Niger observed an unusual gathering at the Mike Okigbo sand beach at Niger Street Onitsha which is located close to the Onitsha Main Market Road.
“On closer inspection, it was discovered that some men were offloading bags from a boat unto the jetty. The men on sighting the naval patrol, attempted to resist arrest by brandishing some weapons which did not deter the naval men. Warning shots were fired to scare the men into submission; rather they retreated deeper into the river into a waiting flying boat. Efforts were made to pursue them but they detoured deeper into a populated area,” he said.
He said they then took the decision to retrieve the bags which were later discovered to contain marijuana, saying “in total, 15 bags weighing approximately 150Kg of marijuana were recovered back to the Naval Outpost Onitsha.”
Captain Oamen said that the effort has nipped in the bud the havoc the drugs would have wreaked on the innocent citizen of Anambra State.
The commanding officer, however, re-emphasized the resolve of the outpost in discharging its mandate of ridding Anambra State of criminal elements during this festive season.
He also promised that the outpost would ensure a crime-free period around Onitsha, as well as sees that work in and around the second Niger Bridge would be unhindered by illegal operators on the waterway.
He assured the various security agencies in the state of his continued support and collaboration in fighting crime in Anambra State.
Speaking after the handing over of the suspects, the State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps who was represented by his Deputy Commandant, Mr Chris Okoronkwo lauded the level of synergy between the Nigerian Army, Navy and other security outfits which assisted in ridding the state of miscreants and criminals.
He assured that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps in Anambra State would not relent in persecuting the suspects, adding that the mutual assistance have helped them a lot.
The State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency represented by the Area Commander, NDLEA, Fegge Command, Mr Aladetohun Taiwo commended the mutual relationship between them and other security agencies which has yielded positive result, assuring that they would prosecute the offenders.
In a chat with Oriental News, Capt. Oamen said that the entire area under the bridge which used to be a breeding ground for criminals and illegal sand dredgers has been cleared making it easy for the command to monitor movements of people around the area.
He said it is only sand dredgers who have duly certified documents from the appropriate authorities that are allowed to operate within the areas according to stipulations.
“The iron benders who initially constituted a nuisance along the road within the banks of the River Niger have been taken off the road while the union members have joined in the fight to restore sanity along the areas,” he said.
Oamen lauded the vision of the immediate past governor of the state, Mr Peter Obi on whose tenure the Onitsha Naval Outpost was created and the efforts of the incumbent Governor, Chief Willie Obiano who has maintained the tempo and given all the security outfits in the state a great sense of support.
He said the Naval Outpost is looking forward to moving into their permanent base when the construction work is completed while they also hope to be kitted with gun boats to intensify their efforts to eradicate all forms of criminality within the waterways.
The Sun Report