CNS Evades Reporter’s Question On Avengers Threat, Says We Won’t Spare Any Vices

Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete  Ekwe Ibas on Monday tactically avioded specific questions by journalists on the threat by dreaded militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, saying the Nigeria Army is equal to the task to contain all social vices in the Niger Delta region.

Addressing journalists after inspection of Naval College in Sapele, the CNS who was also in Warri briefly on Saturday for some projects inauguration at the Warri Naval Base, merely said.that the navy would leave no stone unturned in policing the nation’s territorial waters.

BigPen Online recalls that the Nigerian Navy had few weeks ago deployed seven ships and 37 patrol boats for martime security drill in the Niger Delta barely a weeks after its commenced a sea/backwater exercise code named: ‘Octopusgrip’ flagged off in Onne, Rivers state.

Fielding reporters’ questions on Avengers, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, said ” threat by Niger Delta Avengers, that by kidnappers, threat by sea pirates and all forms of threats are what the Nigerian Armed Forces have declared to contain.

According to him, the Navy don’t wait until the threat comes from a particular group before we act”. 

“The function of the Nigerian Armed Forces is to protect lives and properties of its citizens. We are out to protect the nation’s asset.

“I think the Nigerian navy has the responsibilities of protecting the nation’s territorial integrity.

“Recall that at the height of sea robberies and oil facilities vandalism we have been able to put in place strategies to curb all the these crisis.

“The creek’s were very deadly, so we had to device means of ensuring that all vessels that comes into the creek area are escorted back to the sea successfully. I believe this strategy has achieved its aim.

“Ours is to ensure the safety of lives and properties in our maritime waterways”, he added.

Speaking also on piracy, he said; “like I said before, the Nigerian navy is to ensure the safety of lives and properties of all those doing legitimate businesses in our waterways.

“We have continued to maintain high presence of security in the waterways. So it is wrong to say that sea piracy has increased. We are doing everything possible to ensure safety in our waterways.

“The overall assessment is that the heavy presence of navy personnel have reduced to minimum incidences of sea piracy.

“There might have been some attempts by sea pirates to cause mayhem but those attempts have been adequately repealed by the Nigerian Navy.

“So for sea fairers who are doing their legitimate businesses, the navy is ready to protect you. Though we may have challenges here and there, we are doing our best to ensure that the incidences are brought to their barest minimum”, he added.