…WARNS AGAINST MALICIOUS MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Nigerian Navy has warned enemies of the force that are using malicious media campaigns against the renewed fight towards eradicating crude oil theft and other illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime domain, to desist from it as their insipid publications will not distract the force from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
In the same vein, the force disclosed that in its operations against crude oil theft in 2023, it arrested 23 ships, over 233 suspects, and 690 wooden boats with stolen crude oil and products.
Also, over 703 illegal refining sites were destroyed and tens of barges, 82 vehicles, and tanker trucks were arrested and crude oil and Petroleum products amounting to over N105 billion were confiscated and denied oil thieves.
These disclosures were made on Thursday by the Director of Information (DINFO), Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan in Abuja.
According to him, appropriate prosecuting agencies are in the custody of all arrested suspects and the fight against crude oil theft is ongoing with renewed vigour in the year 2024.
Part of his statement read that: “The attention of the Naval Headquarters has been drawn to the untoward activities of some desperate individuals/organizations engaged in sponsoring fraudulent and unsubstantiated publications in some mainstream media and online news platforms against the ongoing effort of the Nigerian Navy (NN) towards eradicating the menace of crude oil theft and other forms of illegalities in the Nation’s maritime domain.
‘It has been observed that their modus operandi includes sourcing the services of third-party agents/sectional egoists to discredit the reinvigorated stance of the NN in the fight against crude oil theft.
“Ordinarily, the NN would not have responded to such baseless assertions, but it has become necessary to prevent gullible members of the public from being misinformed by the erroneous publications.
“Suffice to state that the NN in the discharge of her statutory responsibilities as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will continue to work tirelessly for the betterment of the nation’s maritime security.
“It is on record that the NN has always worked harmoniously with all maritime stakeholders nationally, regionally, and internationally. The coming on board of Private Maritime stakeholders for the protection of critical onshore economic assets in the sole interest of the nation’s economy is a known development provided professionalism and Standard Operating Procedures are upheld strictly. Hence, it is a complete fallacy to allege to the contrary via sponsored ill-conceived, and uncorroborated publications.
“The NN as the Lead Agency for the security of Nigeria’s Maritime Environment has been at the forefront of galvanizing legitimate maritime stakeholders for the collective fight against crude oil theft and to secure our national economy assets.
“This is obvious with the various past and ongoing operations and exercises designed to curb maritime criminalities, particularly oil theft.
“Some of these operations are Operation DAKAR TA DABARWO, Operation CALM WATERS, Operation NCHEKWE OSHIMILI, and Exercise SEA GUARDIAN among others.
“It is not surprising, therefore, that these ignorant publications aimed at distracting the Navy are sponsored by the soon-to-be-arrested criminals involved in oil theft who are feeling the impact of the Nigerian Navy’s renewed fight towards eradicating the menace of oil theft.
“The Navy’s effort has been visible leading to an increase in oil production in the last 6 months as rightly reported by relevant authorities and the media.
However, Rear Admiral Ayo-Vaughan reemphasized the commitment of the Navy under the leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla not to be deterred by the malicious and misguided propaganda in the media, adding that “The sponsored campaigns of calumny will not deter the NN from carrying out her constitutionally enshrined roles in the interest of National economy.”
Ayo-Vaughan used the opportunity to call on members of the public to jettison the highly unpatriotic publications.
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