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Navy Sends Eight Warships, Helicopters After Sea Pirates
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanual Ogalla, said eight elite Nigeria Navy warships and two helicopters have left the country’s shores to combat sea piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
The maritime security operations will encompass anti-crude oil, anti-sea piracy, anti-sea robbery, and anti-fishing, as well as boarding and aerial operations, among other activities.
Vice Admiral Ogalla, who disclosed this to newsmen during the flag-off of exercise ‘Obangame Express 2024,’ in Onne, Rivers State on Friday, said the deployment was a global joint naval operation.
Ogalla, who was represented by the Navy’s Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, also said the naval Special Boat Service (Special Forces) would participate in the week-long exercise.
The CNS stated, “Obangame Express, sponsored by the United States African Command (US Africom), brings together naval fleets from the GoG and key partners from Europe, the Spanish navy, and North America to secure the region.
“It offers a platform for like-minded partners to jointly devise African-led solutions to transnational threats and challenges for enhancing regional security,” he said.
He stated that Nigeria is committed to working with the Gulf of Guinea nations on the anti-piracy mission aimed at securing the maritime environment of the region to promote economic activities.
The CNS recounted recent successful joint operations between the Nigerian Navy and the Cameroonian Navy that led to the arrest of a vessel ‘MV Jasmine’ for alleged crude oil theft.
He added, “Likewise, through information provided by the French navy, another rogue vessel, MT Big Majesty, was arrested two months ago in the Gulf of Guinea. Just a few days ago, the Nigerian Navy, acting on behalf of the Gabonese Government, apprehended MV Blu Shark, demonstrating our commitment to regional collaboration.
“These successes mirror the objectives of exercise Obangame Express, which are already commonplace in our maritime space”
He noted that the exercise aligns with the African Union’s forthcoming launch of a joint maritime task force to enhance regional cooperation in combating maritime crimes in the GoG.
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Senator Abaribe welcomes arrest of Simon Ekpa
The lawmaker representing Abia South, Senator Abaribe, said the arrest of separatist agitator Simon Ekpa in Finland is a welcome development.
The lawmaker stated that the arrest would deter purveyors of violence in the southeast region from continuing the mayhem being unleashed in the region.
According to him, Ekpa and his supporters are hiding behind the Biafra agitation to perpetrate crimes in the region.
In an interview with Channels TV, Abaribe said: “The arrest of Simon Ekpa is something that is very very welcome because this will tell all those people at home, who are purveyors of violence and instigated by Simon Ekpa that he actually said that he is just a content creator and not a serious person.
“We have always said that his activities in South East are totally wrong and not what Ndigbo stands for.
“The quest by the IPOB seeking non-violence referendum was turned by all these criminals. They are using IPOB to cause mayhem in the South-East.”
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Nigerian military kills several IPOB members, recovers bombs, pump-action guns
The Nigerian military said its troops of Operation Udo Ka have neutralised several suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, in Imo State.
The Nigerian Army Headquarters stated this in a post on its official Facebook page on Monday.
The post said the operation was carried out along the Ekeututu–Ihiteunansa Road in Orsu Local Government Area of the state.
According to the post: “During the operation, the troops encountered suspected IPOB/ESN members. In the ensuing engagement, several of the suspected criminals were neutralized.
“Captured items included pump-action guns, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and IED-making materials, as well as charms.
“The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General OO Oluyede, commended the troops for their gallantry and urged them to sustain their efforts in eliminating criminal elements from their hideouts.
“He also reassured the peace-loving people of the South East to carry on with their daily activities without fear.”
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Few Months After Retirement From Winners Chapel, Bishop David Abioye Launches New Ministry, Gives Reasons
Bishop David Abioye has explained why he’s setting up his own ministry after leaving the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel.
This is coming just after retirement from office as Vice President of Living Faith Church worldwide.
The revered cleric unveiled plans for a new spiritual platform titled Hour of Revival. The maiden edition of the Hour of Revival took place on Saturday at the Velodrome of the National Stadium in Abuja, drawing a large crowd of participants from diverse backgrounds.
Addressing the attendees, Bishop Abioye emphasized that the initiative was a divine directive.
Bishop Abioye further clarified that the revival platform is not his personal project but an ordained mission by God.
He called on participants to embrace personal revival as a pathway to corporate revival, expressing his hope that everyone in attendance would be transformed into fire-catchers and fire-spreaders.
The Hour of Revival, which is open to both saved and unsaved individuals, serves as an interdenominational prayer platform to rekindle spiritual fire and inspire personal and collective renewal.
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