Piracy: Navy Overhauls Security Measures

The Nigerian Navy has reorganised its security strategies on tackling the menace of pirates on Bonny waterways headlong.
Travellers on the sea route testify that there were patrol boats and gun-ships at strategic points along the route.
Inveastigations by The Tide reveal that the continued reportage of the terror unleashed by hoodlums on the Bonny sea route became a cause for concern and embarrassment to the military authorities, who have now ordered an overhaul of its operatipns on the waterways.
Presently, there are three big naval boats stationed along the sea from Bonny Isand to Port Harcourt.
There are also additional two stationed at the particular point where the last two pirate attacks occured between Dutch Isand and Orre.
Our Correspodent counted about seven patrol gun boats doing a sweep of the river from the Atlantic Ocean via Okrika to Port Harcourt.
Also, there was noticeable compliance by the boat drivers in the directive to utilize the main sea route as against the initial situation where they always used the creeks, which renders them and their passengers vulnerable to attacks by the criminals.
Some of the passengets who spoke to The Tide expressed happiness over the current development along the sea route.
One of the passengers was Ebenezer Manilla Pepple, who was travelling with his entire household, unlike before when he had to strive to catch a booking on the NLNG boats before he could visit home alone.
Another traveller, Dr. Spiff Henshaw, said, “I appreciate God for what we are now seeing on this river. Before now, if your boat spoils on the sea, you will be afraid whether these boys will emerge to attack you.
“But on my way to Bonny now, our boat engine packed up, but because the Naval personnel where everywhere we felt very safe . Our engine later started functioning and we continued the journey.”
A chieftain of Bonny Improvement Union (BIU), Professor Kalada Abbey, also expressed happiness over the heightened efforts to secure the waterways.
He thanked the Chief Naval Staff (NNS) Pathfinder and the the entire Navy hierarchies for responding to the outcry of Bonny people by dispatching men to take charge of the sea route.

By: Bethel Toby