Nigerian Navy indicates to participate in ‘Exercise Grand Africa NEMO 2020

Chinazor Megbolu     |   

The Nigerian Navy has indicated interest to participate in the 2020 edition of the Annual Multilateral Sea Exercise tagged; Grand Africa NEMO within the Eastern Naval Command Area of Responsibility.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche made this known on at the weekend during a press conference on military operations across the country, saying that foreign naval warships from Italy and the United States of America are expected to participate in the exercise.

He explained that the foreign ships of the United States, Hershel Woody Williams and Italian Navy Ship Martinengo will be on ground to participate.

Enenche maintained the Nigerian Navy ships, NNS Thunder, Okoabana, Kyanwa, Gongola and NNS Shiroro are participating as well.

He said that troops of Operation Delta Safe have continued with the aggressive fight against economic sabotage in the South-South zone with giant strides over time.

Enenche, however, pointed out that due to credible intelligence on incessant illegal bunkering activities in Ifie, Ugbokodo community in Warri South Local Government
Area of Delta State, a patrol team of Nigerian Navy Ship Delta raided the entire area.

“On arrival at the community, the team discovered a makeshift jetty suspected to be used for illegal bunkering activities.

“More than 500 drums with petroleum products were concealed in different locations in the community.

“The drums with products were handled appropriately. The team also discovered an abandoned bunkering vehicle laden with petroleum products as well as a pumping machine.

“Similarly, troops of Sector 3, Operation Delta Safe, immobilised three illegal refineries containing five surface tanks loaded with unspecified litres of illegally refined oil products around Alakiri Creek and Elele forest in Emuoha and Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

“Additionally, troops of 146 Battalion immobilised three illegal refineries containing four boilers, four storage tanks and one Cotonou boat loaded with illegally refined crude oil around Opokiri and Bodo in Bonny and Ogu-Bolo Local Government Areas respectively,” Enenche said.

Additionally, he further disclosed that in the North-Central zone, troops have continued to sustain aggressive kinetic operations against armed bandits and other criminals, stressing that the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke conducted several raids at identified armed bandits’ camps at various locations in the zone, which resulted in appreciable successes.

According to him; “these ongoing kinetic efforts were supported by Civil Military Cooperation, CIMIC, activities in the form of medical outreaches and stakeholders’ meetings among the various ethnic groups in the zone.

“Notably, within the period, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, in conjunction with the Defence Intelligence Agency Tactical Surveillance team, conducted a dawn raid operation on a suspected armed bandits’ hideout at Maraban Udege in Nasarawa State.

“The operation led to the arrest of a notorious bandit, one “Adamu Abu”, with one locally made rifle and 4 rounds of ammunition.

“Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke and 117 Guards Battalion, while on a joint clearance operation around Mararaba Udege in Nasarawa State, raided a suspected kidnappers’ camp along Bakonu road in Nasarawa LGA”.