The Nigerian Navy on Saturday advised the people of the Niger Delta to desist from illegal activities including piracy, vandalism, kidnapping, oil theft and other criminal activities that will bring the region into ridicule.

The Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Formoso in Brass, Bayelsa, Captain Mayowa Olukoya, gave the advice during a free medical mission to Odioma community in Brass area of the state.

The free medical service was held in the community as part of activities commemorating the 61st anniversary of the Nigerian Navy.

Flagging off the free medical mission, Captain Olukoya said the selection of Odioma was strategic, stressing that it was one of the gestures of cementing the relationship between the military organisation and the community.

He said the Nigerian Navy had stationed a house boat in the community to secure and check illegal oil activities in the area.

“Since the mounting of house boat in the community, the cases of sea piracy, pipeline vandalism and kidnapping have reduced.

“The level of illegal oil bunkering has drastically reduced in this area. It is not only in this area that we are making sure that crude oil theft is being eradicated but in the whole of Niger Delta,” Olukoya said.

He assured the community that those patients that could not be treated at the community would be referred to the Navy Hospital in Warri or the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

He thanked the community for giving Navy an enabling environment to operate.

Speaking, the Youth President of Odioma community, Mr. Forcembray Iniegha, commended the Nigerian Navy for the gesture.

He added that the only health centre in their community had been deserted, saying that it looked like a mortuary.

He said a few staff at the health centre were not able to take care of the patients, commending the Navy for coming to their rescue.

He stated that the community is a unique one that lacks basic social amenities, describing the gesture as a wonderful opportunity to cater for the health needs of the locals.

In his remarks, a representative of the Bayelsa Governor, Brass Local Government Area Caretaker Chairman, Mr. Andrew Esau, assured the people that the health centre would soon be upgraded to a cottage hospital.

“The Nigerian Navy has brought succour to some persons that have been sick in the community because of our affinity with the military organisation. We promise to help the military in its crusade to stop oil theft in this area,” he stated

The highlight of the medical mission was testing and prescription and issuance of drugs to patients.

Residents were tested and treated for malaria, fever, diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis, among others.

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