The Central Naval Command (CNC) has initiated moves to avert threats by restive youths in the Niger Delta region especially in Delta State to attack oil facilities and other maritime infrastructure.
As part of measures to tackle the development, the CNC at the weekend flagged off a 90-day maritime operation codenamed Operation Doubeni II.
A statement signed by the command’s Information Officer, Blessed Nuhu said the operation was designed to curb criminal maritime activities within the CNC Area of Responsibility (AOR) to make the area crime-free for economic exploratory activities for enhanced national development.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) CNC, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, was quoted as saying that the operation was to consolidate on the impressive achievements recorded by the navy during the conduct of Operation Calm Waters activated in May 2019 to deter planned agitations within and around Nigerian’s maritime environment.
Garba said the Operation Calm Waters to a large extent contributed to the reduction in reported incidents of sea robbery, piracy, illegal bunkering, smuggling, illegal refinery and other maritime crimes within Nigerian waters.