Adequate security measures to ensure that the country’s maritime domain is secured from all forms of threats and crimes particularly as the Yuletide season gets to its peak have been put in place, the Nigerian Navy (NN) has said.

Commodore Christian Ezekobe, Naval Director of Information, said the Service is very much aware of the desperation of criminally minded people to perpetrate crimes in the maritime domain thereby undermining legitimate economic activities.

“To this end, the Chief of the Naval Staff has mandated all naval formations to maintain highest level of operational readiness to ensure that no criminal in the maritime environment operates.”

The Naval Chief urged citizens to be vigilant especially on the activities of fake naval personnel who create security breaches, and enjoined them to be patriotic by reporting the impostors and other criminals to the nearest naval formation.

“Meanwhile, the NN is glad to report that the Service patrol team deployed from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny under the maritime component of OPs Delta Safe on Decembers 2, 2016 descended heavily on illegal refinery owners.

“The team discovered and destroyed four illegal refineries set up at Ijawkiri in Rivers State. Five persons were arrested in connection with the sites while items destroyed are five Cotonou boats laden with products suspected to be crude oil and another Cotonou boat loaded with several drums of illegally refined AGO. Other items destroyed include 12 tanks laden with illegally refined AGO and six tanks laden with products suspected to be crude oil.

“The five suspects arrested in connection with the illegal refineries would be handed over to relevant security agency for further action,” Ezekobe said.

•Photo shows a Nigerian navy patrol boat.

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