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The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has declared that Dayspring Island in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State is no longer a safe haven for criminals following the Nigerian Navy’s sustained presence and recent operations in the area.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of Exercise Littoral Fury on the island, the CNS, who was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, said the naval occupation of the former militant camp has restored peace to the Calabar Channel as well as the Dayspring Channel that leads to Cameroon.
“One of the biggest militant camps used to be here. But today, the Navy has occupied this camp. By our presence here, it will increase commerce, provide safety of lives and property,” he said.
“If you look around, you will see the locals, happy and free. There is nobody oppressing them. The issues of kidnapping, abductions, harassment, they don’t exist anymore,” he added.
The CNS noted that securing the waterways would also boost revenue to the Federal Government as trade and economic activities pick up in the strategic international waterways.
On Exercise Littoral Fury, he said the three-day live-firing drill conducted by the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) was designed to test operational readiness and train personnel on all weapon systems, “from the 9mm pistol to the automatic grenade launcher.”
“What you have witnessed here is not merely a display of firepower, but a direct manifestation of my strategic vision, which is to develop a modern, agile, and professional naval force dedicated to securing Nigeria’s maritime interests.
“Rigorous training and realistic drills are the prize of maritime dominance and key to tackling crude oil theft, sea robbery, and other maritime criminality in Nigeria’s sovereign waters.
“Participating gunboats, air assets, and operational units have tested their weapon systems, evaluated inter-service communication protocols, and validated Joint Littoral Manoeuvre Doctrines.
“The seamless coordination displayed proves that the ENC is fully keyed into maintaining operational superiority,” he said.
The CNS urged officers and ratings to integrate the lessons from the exercise into daily patrols and sustain the professional edge demonstrated.
Rear Admiral Chiedozie Okehie, Flag Officer Commanding ENC, charged personnel to go back to their different units, remember the lessons learned from the exercise, and implement them in real-life operations.
Personnel from various units within the command participated and won individual prizes, with Forward Operating Base, Bonny, emerging as the overall winner of the exercise.
