Security
Nigerian Navy Commence Tactical Exercise to Sharpen Skills, Tackle Piracy
Nigerian Navy Commence Tactical Exercise to Sharpen Skills, Tackle Piracy
The Nigerian Navy has commenced its maiden intra-command maritime tactical live-firing exercise, code-named Exercise Littoral Fury, in Cross River State as part of efforts to strengthen its operational capacity to combat piracy, sea robbery, illegal oil bunkering and crude oil theft.
Eereporter.com
The exercise, organised by the Eastern Naval Command, is designed to enhance the combat readiness and proficiency of naval personnel in weapon handling and operations within creeks, waterways and the littoral environment.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by the Chief of Operations, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Patrick Effah, said on Wednesday that marksmanship was a fundamental combat skill that naval personnel must continuously develop.
He said, “This exercise is to enhance the Navy’s operational efficiency and effectiveness in fighting at sea, on land and through joint operations with other security agencies. Rigorous training and realistic operational drills are not just operational activities. What we will be witnessing today is geared towards ensuring that we gain the basic things that have to do with firing and hitting our target.”
Navy officers during the tactical exercise
He urged participants to adhere strictly to safety regulations and range orders, stressing that the exercise was not merely about winning points but about honing skills required to protect Nigeria’s maritime interests and installations.
Effah also commended the Cross River State Government for its support to the Nigerian Navy, particularly its provision of logistics for the establishment of a naval outpost at Dayspring Island.
Speaking at the event, the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chiedozie Okehie, said the exercise was aimed at exposing personnel to realistic operational situations and improving their ability to respond rapidly to maritime security threats.
He said the exercise would also promote joint and coordinated responses among security agencies to threats including piracy, sea robbery, illegal oil bunkering, crude oil theft, smuggling and other forms of maritime criminality.
He said, “The littoral environment presents unique operational challenges that require specialised skills, appropriate tactics, effective communication and seamless coordination among security agencies.”
The FOC added that the command had continued to leverage technology, innovation and intelligence-driven operations to improve its ability to detect and respond to maritime crimes.
Representing the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, at the ceremony, the State Security Adviser for the Southern Senatorial District, Calabar, Navy Commander Patrick Bassey Odiong (retd.), said the state government welcomed the initiative, noting that the security of the state’s waterways was critical to economic development.
Odiong said the state’s extensive coastline and sensitive waterways required sustained security to protect economic activities, fishing communities, commercial vessels and maritime investments.

Nigerian Navy
He said the government would continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies to strengthen security along the state’s waterways.
He also commended the Eastern Naval Command for its reported successes in the arrest of suspected maritime criminals and the rescue of passengers along the Calabar-Oron waterways.
Eereporter.com
Crime
Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers
Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers
The Nigerian Navy, through FOB BONNY, has dismantled an illegal refining site discovered in Promise Land Community along Nanabie Creek, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, further denying criminal operators the infrastructure required to process stolen crude oil.
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The site was discovered on 30 September 2026 following credible intelligence and comprised one large cooking pot and 3 large storage tanks intended for illegal refining activities. On 2 October 2026, the Commanding Officer, FOB BONNY, Captain SMC Umeh, led a team to the location, where the illegal refining site and associated equipment were destroyed in accordance with established regulations.
The intervention represents a further disruption of illegal refining capacity within the Bonny area, particularly by removing infrastructure that could be used to process and store stolen crude oil. It also follows recent operations by FOB BONNY under Operation DELTA SENTINEL that uncovered substantial volumes of suspected stolen crude oil and associated illegal refining infrastructure within its Area of Operations

Oil
The Nigerian Navy has continued to strengthen surveillance and monitoring across the area to prevent the establishment or reactivation of illegal refining sites and deny criminal operators the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and related activities.
ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO
Navy Captain
Director Naval Information
Nigerian Navy
Eereporter.com
Economy
President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You
President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the efforts and performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country, stressing that it has justified the confidence reposed on it.
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He gave this commendation on Friday, October 2, 2026 in Awka, Anambra State at the commissioning of a new Zonal Directorate of the EFCC. The President pointed out that there are evidential proofs of the success of the Commission in convictions, recoveries and other landmark achievements
Represented by Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tinubu noted that “supporting the EFCC is not particularly difficult. The agency has consistently demonstrated that the confidence reposed on it is well founded. Without mincing words, the evidential proof of the EFCC’s success speaks loudly in convictions secured, assets and properties recovered”
He affirmed that the strides of the Commission are in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
“When we came in three years ago, I highlighted nine major focal areas of my administration. Two of which are reforming the economy for sustained and inclusive growth and promotion of good governance. The anti-graft agency compliments this agenda as they are focused on accountability and transparency and appropriate deployment of resources”, he said.
At the commissioning, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede restated the commitment of the Commission to preventive frameworks in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country.
According to him, the Commission will continue its focus on making corrupt practices difficult by blocking avenues through which they may happen.
“This new Directorate will not only enforce the law professionally and courageously, it will be high on corruption prevention. It will engage government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, professional bodies, schools, markets, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and communities. It will educate stakeholders, build relationships and mobilise the people to own the fight against all forms of corrupt practices in the zone”, he said
He assured Nigerians that the EFCC would not relent in the pursuit of its mandate, recalling the achievements of the Commission in the last 34 months and describing them as impressive progress.
“The pursuit of our mandate has been our dominant engagement and in the past few years, we have made impressive progress. Between October 2023 and July 2026, the Commission received 49, 673 petitions, investigated 39, 615 cases, filed 14, 476 cases in court and secured 10, 872 convictions. This gives a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 percent. In the first half of 2026 alone, we recorded 1, 370 convictions from 1, 889 filings. The Commission also recorded recoveries of N1, 233, 612, 040, 411. 11, $684, 478, 457. 32, £373, 905. 78, €9, 343, 803. 66 inn addition to recoveries in other currencies”, he said.
He noted that at the institutional level, the Commission has made radical reforms that have been yielding optimal results as there are consequential improvements in the agency’s processes and procedures, which partly explains the impacts the EFCC has made and will continue to make in all the matrices of law enforcement.
“Reforms that have strengthened the Commission during the period include new guidelines on arrest and bail, a review of sting operations, the establishment of the Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, the Security Department, the Immigration and Visa Section and the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre”, he said.
While charging Ndi Anambra on whistleblowing, the anti-graft czar said that the Commission has established channels through which members of the public can submit petitions and provide information. He noted that the Commission’s Eagle Eye App allows citizens to provide details of suspected wrongdoing and makes the provision of an informant’s personal details optional. “However, whistleblowing must be responsible and based on facts. It must not become an instrument for settling scores”, he said.

EFCC
He thereafter said that Anambra and Imo States deserve effective and responsive institutional presence as they are renowned for enterprise, innovation, commerce and an extraordinary culture of industry, adding that these legitimate activities must be protected from fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, investment fraud, diversion of public resources and other forms of economic and financial crimes. “Therefore, our coming to Awka is beyond geographical expansion. It is about taking the mandate of the EFCC closer to the people and closer to the economic activities we are meant to protect”, he said.
In their remarks, His Excellencies, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State and Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State said that they were pleased with the activities and management of the EFCC under the leadership of Olukoyede. They pledged their support to the Commission as it opened a new Zonal Directorate in their domain.
The commissioning of the new Directorate witnessed massive turn out of distinguished Nigerians, including members of the National Assembly, civil society organisations, community leaders, students, media among others.
Eereporter.com
Security
Nigerian Air Force Celebrates Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day with Families in Lagos
Nigerian Air Force Celebrates Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day with Families in Lagos
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) marked Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary with a family-centred celebration at the ATO Field, NAF Base Ikeja, Lagos, bringing together children and families of personnel in an atmosphere of patriotism, unity and camaraderie.
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The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, represented by the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal AA Suleh, joined the celebration and presented gift items to the children. The event, facilitated by the Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Air Commodore MA Imam, featured games, music, cultural displays and other recreational activities.

Nigerian Air Force
The celebration reinforced the NAF’s commitment to personnel and family welfare as a key enabler of morale and operational effectiveness, in line with the CAS Command Philosophy, while reaffirming the NAF’s commitment to standing with Nigerians and contributing to a stronger, safer and more prosperous Nigeria.
Eereporter.com
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