By Olamide Francis
The Nigerian Navy, Odekpe Outpost near Onitsha, Anambra State has promised residents of Ogbaru Communities and its environs that the military would not hesitate to assist other conventional security agencies in flushing out criminals from its waterways.
The Navy also reiterated her determination to intensify operations along the Waterways of Omambala Region, comprising Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum, and some parts of its local government areas which share tributaries with the River Niger.
Commander, Ogbaru Naval Outpost, Odekpe, Navy Captain Innocent Udoh told our correspondent on phone yesterday that the Navy was ever ready to confront criminals who operate from the Asaba end of Onitsha and Omambala axis through the River Niger.
Navy Captain Udoh in a combatant posture said that his Unit has put measures in place on security consciousness by educating riverine dwellers and other business owners to be proactive against criminals.
The Naval boss who has so far displayed professionalism in his numerous approach in crime-fighting, however, stated that his personnel was only assisting the state and other security agencies in their fight against crime.
The combatant officer, however, called on residents of riverine communities of the state to be vigilant at all times as some of the criminals operate through the water to commit a crime and run back to their hide-out after the commission of such crime.
He, however, urged residents to report actions of suspicious elements in their midst as well as cooperate with their community leaders and vigilantes to fight crime to a standstill.
It would be recalled that a few years ago some notorious armed robbers and kidnappers who operated from the Onono area of the River Niger and other farm settlements in Delta State and Anam areas of the state were arrested by a combined team of the disbanded Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) and local vigilantes.
About ten members of the notorious gang who operated across the River Niger were killed in the suicide operation that shook residents of Onome Island and its surrounding.
