Military to deploy gunboats to Niger Delta creeks – Chief of Defense

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh has disclosed that military gunboats would be deployed to the creeks of the Niger Delta region during the 2015 general elections.

The deployment of the gunboats according to him is to ensure that peace prevail during the elections.

Badeh who stated this at the commissioning ceremony of 30 Gunboats procured by the Ministry of Defence for the Joint Task Force (Operation Pulo Shield) at the Government Jetty, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital noted that aside being used to wage war against crude oil theft, it would be useful during the 2015 elections.

While giving the assurance that the boats and other resources allocated by the Federal Government would be judiciously deployed for the overall economic benefit of the country, he warned trouble makers to steer clear of the creeks during the 2015 elections.

“Aside from curtailing oil theft, these boats would come in very handy during the forthcoming general election. Troops of the OPPS would use these boats to dominate the creeks as a warning to would be trouble makers. We all want peace to prevail, so trouble makers, be warned”.

Badeh commended the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan “for its undying commitment to providing the much needed support to themed Forces of Nigeria in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.”

He pointed out that the Nigerian Navy has continued to intensify its war against oil theft which according to him has curtailed the high level of crude oil losses.

Badeh seized the opportunity to warn “all those criminals who take pleasure in stealing the nation’s crude oil and vandalizing pipelines in the Niger Delta to desist from such unpatriotic acts.”

Governor Emmanuel Udughan of Delta who as the Chairman of the Technical Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control of the National Economic Council was the Special Guest of Honour commended President Jonathan for his determination to equip the military to perform its constitutional role.

Udughan who noted that the effect of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism is devastating in the Niger Delta region said the support President Jonathan has given the military has enable them to curb the problems.

He enjoined Nigerians to come out en masse and vote for President Jonathan on March 28 so that all the gains recorded in the last four years would not be reversed.