Central Naval Command,
Rear Admiral Apochi
Ogabu Suleiman, has said that within seven
months, the command destroyed 100 illegal
refineries; arrested many suspected oil thieves
and impounded ships and other vessels used by
vandals.
Rear Admiral Seleiman, who was speaking in
Yenagoa over the weekend before handing over
the command to FOC, Rear Admiral Tarioworio
Dick, the first indigene of the area to head the
office, said he engaged illegal refiners and other
maritime criminals in battles and made the
crimes unappealing.
Stating that crime does not pay, advised “pirates
and oil thieves to desist from the crimes,”
because the command will sanction offenders
severely in accordance with the extant rules and
regulations in order to curb maritime crimes.”
During his seven month tenure at the command,
Suleiman commissioned five projects he initiated
and executed including an expansive swimming
pool to keep the naval officers familiar and
abreast of their natural environment, and
establish a magazine titled: ‘Central Searchlight’,
a publication of the Chief of Naval Staff.
In recognition of his excellent performance, the
Community Media Network (CMN), led by Delight
Ozoegbe presented an award to the FOC, and
commended him for reducing maritime crimes
especially in the state.
The new FOC Tariworio Dick in his remarks,
however, appealed to the communities to
cooperate with the Navy by volunteering
information on those committing illegal activities,
because the criminals do not mean well for the
community and nation.
“I am disturbed by the actions of crude oil
thrives because they dig the ground and use it
as a storage facility. It damages the environment
to the extent that our own children may not
recover from what they have done.
“They are not friends and so there should be the
whole community approach towards tackling
crude oil theft, sea robbery and piracy, social
commitment and responsibility, in the earnest
efforts to facilitate the sustainable development
of the Niger Delta region,” he said.
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