The Nigerian Army on Wednesday in Calabar said it destroyed
36 petroleum tankers and six "Cotonou" boats allegedly used for illegal
bunkering in Cross River. The outgoing Commander of 13 Brigade,
Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Okwudili Azinta, announced this while
presenting a scorecard of his command activities in 2013.
Azinta
said that the tankers and boats were destroyed at different locations in
the state by members of the Joint Task Force (JTF). According to
him, oil theft in Cross River has reduced while most creeks that are
being used to refine stolen petroleum products have also been destroyed.
"With
the combined efforts of the JTF in Cross River, sea robbery and piracy
have also been reduced in the waterways of Cross River and Akwa Ibom. "Also,
there is no militant camp in Cross River; the Efut Esighi militant and
shrine camps in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River have been
destroyed by the Nigerian Army.
"All these were made possible by the zero tolerance to illegal oil bunkering in the state," he said. He said that the command under his leadership had trained 40 officers on intelligence information gathering.
"The army needs appropriate and timely information to strengthen its operational network. "The
Army also needs expertise to collate, gather and make information
analysis which can be used to arrest crisis before it escalates.
"The
idea of the training was nursed from the fact that the military needed
such training on warfare in the present 21st century, " he said. The
commander also said that the brigade, under his command, hosted and won
the 82 Division Inter-Brigade Proficiency Combat Competition.
The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the command is executing some
projects in the barracks which include the renovation of the old
residence of the former Governor-General of Southern Nigeria. Others
are single officers’ accommodation, 13 Brigade Urban Communication
masts, and a block of 30 flats for soldiers and others.
Azinta has been transferred to 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Benin, as the new commander. Azinta
advised officers and men of the command to key into his leadership
style in building the Nigerian Army worthy of emulation.

No comments:
Post a Comment