In a bid to safeguard the Bonny-Port Harcourt Sea Route, 146 Battalion, Nigerian Army (NA) has increased patrol traffic along the route and also viciously executing intelligence-led operations to rid the general area of threats to travelers’ safety.

The Commanding Officer, 146 Battalion, Lt Col Oyemade Oyewumi gave this assurance on Friday, September 13, 2024 in a chat with Kristina Reports at Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya Camp in Bonny Island, Rivers State.

He has assured the people of Rivers State, especially, residents of Bonny Island and adjoining communities of the Army’s protection from miscreants, revealing that personnel of the Battalion will ensure continuous presence of the Army along the route.

He disclosed that 146 Battalion under his watch has been poised to put in place improved security measures in the area aimed at giving adequate protection to the people. He further revealed that troops of 146 Battalion utilizing gunboats have extended and strengthened their patrols to cover Dawes Island, as well as other areas in the state.

Lt Col Oyemade said the Army had also intensified its public sensitization campaigns through the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on the need for passengers travelling by water to be aware of their environment and the kind of boats they patronize, urging them to deploy situational awareness in their choice of boats to board before traveling.

“We have increased patrol traffic along Dawes Island. We patrol the area from Bonny Island to Port Harcourt on daily basis.

“We have also sensitized the public through the Maritime Chairman that the passengers should also be careful of the kind of boats they board. Furthermore, timings have been issued out for movement to frustrate these miscreants and deny them freedom of action”.

He disclosed that, as part of the Army’s renewed vigour to end the activities of criminal elements along waterways and boost people’s confidence in water transportation, timing for movement has been agreed upon with the MWUN, a development he said was aimed at denying the criminals opportunity to perpetuate their acts.

On what the Battalion is doing to sustain the onslaught against criminal elements, the Commanding Officer said they had put proactive measures in place to ensure that protection of the people within Bonny Island and Port Harcourt City were top notch.

He further informed that the Battalion was ensuring sustainability of its efforts by leveraging community-based security, inter-agency collaboration and long-term engagement with communities, stakeholders, partners to build trust and ensure collective ownership of security.

“Sustainability is a top priority for us. We recognize that complacency can embolden criminal elements. To ensure lasting impact, we are adopting a multi-faceted approach that emphasizes proactive strategies, collaborative partnerships, and community engagement. Our goal is to foster a secure environment through enduring solutions.”

Lt. Col. Oyemade added that the Battalion would continue to assess and refine its strategies in line with evolving threats to ensure that it remains ahead of criminal networks in the state.

Speaking on the mandate of Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS) which is “To Protect Oil and Gas Infrastructure and Prevent Militancy, Sea Robbery, Crude Oil Theft and other Forms of Criminality within the Joint Operations Area”, the Commanding Officer said a lot of achievements had been made, considering the adoption of a holistic and sustainable approach in its onslaught against the criminal elements.

Listing some of the achievements of the Battalion in the last quarter, Lt Col Oyemade said, so far, 10 persons suspected to be involved in illegal oil bunkering and illegal refining were arrested and 17 illegal refining sites destroyed Others are the destruction of over 100,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products owned by some criminal elements, destroyed 10 Pure Put boats suspected to be used in illegal oil bunkering and 20 illegal refining facilities.

He said all the achievements made at the time could not have been possible, but for the Battalion’s determination, commitment and focus-driven strategy which he noted birthed the results.

“Our efforts have been focused on disrupting the criminal networks driving these activities, and we are seeing positive results”.

The Commanding Officer, while reiterating the Army’s commitment to ensure a safe and secure environment for all, called on passengers and other well meaning citizens and residents of the state to go about their normal duties.