The Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Calabar, has flagged off the ‘Operation Bekan Mmon II (calm water in the Efik tongue)’ aimed at curbing the myriad of insecurity challenges in the maritime domain.
Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Adm. David Adeniran, flagged off the operation at the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory jetty in Calabar on Saturday.
Adeniran said the need for training and retraining in various operations had become expedient to navies in the world over, because of the dynamics in contemporary maritime security threats.
He mentioned some of the security threats to include piracy, hostage taking, kidnapping, illegal oil bunkering, poaching, crude oil theft, among others.
The FOC said that Nigeria as a part of the world and a littoral nation, has had its own share of the security challenges.
“It is pertinent to state that Nigeria’s survival is largely dependent on the maritime environment.
“Therefore, the Nigerian Navy as the lead agency on the maritime sector has always made efforts by taking steps to sustain a secured maritime environment for economic prosperity of the country.
“In line with these efforts at deterring maritime crimes and planned violent agitations within and around Nigeria’s maritime environment, Operation Calm Waters I was activated in May 2019.
“The Eastern Naval Command named the operation, Operation Bekan Mmon I, meaning Calm Water in Efik language,” he said.
Adeniran explained that ‘Operation Bekan Mmon I’ recorded numerous successes; led to the arrest of 540 suspects, destruction of 200 illegal refineries, naturalisation of 11,000 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil and 15,000 metric tons of illegally AGO as well as seizure of 25,000 x 50 kilogram of smuggled parboiled rice.
He added that the flag off of the operation was to consolidate on the successes recorded in Operation Bekan Mmon I, adding that the activation followed the strategic directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas.
He called on the communities within the Eastern Naval Command Area of responsibility to continue to support the Nigerian Navy towards ensuring a secured and peaceful maritime environment.
“I also encourage those engaged in illegal activities in maritime environment to desist and join us to ensure a secure maritime environment for economic prosperity of Nigeria.
“I thank the Chief of Naval Staff for providing all the needed logistics for the success of Operation Bekan Mmon I,” he said.
