The Nigerian Navy on Thursday said it has all it takes to flush out militancy in the Niger Delta region and reiterated its resolve to deal with resurgence of militancy in the region.

Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, Flag Officer Commanding, CNC said on assumption of Command in Yenagoa on Thursday that the Navy recently acquired the capacity to flush out recent resurgence of pockets of militant activities.

However only last week the Navy lost 4 of its men escorting an oil services crew when suspected militants ambushed and opened fire on the crew killing the four men and two civilians on board the boat.

Garba therefore said that the Central Naval Command under his leadership will pursue a zero tolerance stance against oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering in line with the strategic directive of the Chief of Naval Staff.

Garba said: “I wish to emphasise that there will be no hiding place for oil thieves as the Command has intensified patrol of her Area of Responsibility with recent delivery of more platforms by the Nigerian Navy.

“With the recent resurgence of pockets of militant activities, I wish to specifically call on these groups of people to desist from criminal activities capable of entrenching security breach in the Niger Delta.

“They have no constituency as all well meaning and law abiding Nigerians will not want to associate with the militants, I therefore urge these criminal gangs to revert to legitimate business or face the wrath of the law.”

The Flag Officer Commanding appealed to members of the public to report suspicious activities to security agencies in a timely manner for swift response to curb criminalities in the Niger Delta region.

Garba summoned a meeting with unit Commanders of various components of the Central Naval Command shortly after assuming duties.

Garba said that he convened the meeting to assess the current performance of the Command along with the expectations from the men and officers.

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