BY Onozure Dania

Lagos—The out-going Flag Officer Commanding  FOC, Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral E. Ogbor, has said that his command was able to arrest several illegal bunkerers, pipeline vandals, sea robbers and pirates, who were paraded before newsmen and handed over to the appropriate authorities.

Ogbor said that the Western Naval Command was able to record a number of successes during his tenure in office as the FOC.

He spoke during the parade at Nigerian Navy Staff Beecroft in his honour. Ogbor said that the command, currently involved in a combined operation with the Benenoise Navy in an operation codenamed OP Prosperity, is aimed at checking the menace of piracy, hijacking of vessels and other forms of illegalities within the Nigerian and Benin Republic maritime boundaries.

He added that the operation has led to the arrest of several vessels, which had been applauded by international maritime bodies and stakeholders, noting that during his time as the FOC, the command participated in EX NEMO in Eastern Naval Command AOR, and executed EX FARIN WATA, where ships of the command carried out Gunnex, Commex and Fleet manoevures.

Other achievements, according to him, include the combined exercise and training with the United States and French Navy ships in support of the African Partnership Station, APS, adding that the command also  hosted several visiting foreign delegations in support of Nigeria’s foreign policy.