The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Oladele Daji, on Wednesday warned illegal operators to stay off the Western Command maritime domain.
The FOC gave the warning after the successful completion of “Ategun Alafia,” an exercise aimed at creating conducive crime free maritime environment within the Command’s areas.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise began on Sept. 29 and ended on Oct. 2.
Daji said that the Nigerian Navy would not hesitate to resist any defiant that does not adhere to the warning
“My warning to those who carry out illegal activities is that they have no space within the Western Naval Command maritime area of operation to operate.
“For those of them that are stubborn, we will match them and defeat them at their own game,” he said.
The FOC also commended those who participated in the exercise, saying it had largely achieved its desired aims and objectives of sharpening the officers’ skills.
“Let me say that the exercise has largely achieved its desired aims and objectives, which are to sharpen the skills of personnel, to validate the training that they have been given ashore and to ensure that their professional skills are put to test at sea.
“The various exercises that were conducted had generally given sea-farers within Western Naval Command area of operation the assurance that the sea is safe.
“It is conducive for them to carry out their legitimate activities,” he said.
He also thanked the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, for providing logistics for the successful exercise.
NAN reports that board, search and seizure exercise, as well as vertical replenishment at sea, among other exercises were conducted.
