The Nigerian Navy has warned members of the public against unauthorised use of its stickers by non Navy personnel members of the public, stressing those persons, when caught, “will be made to face the full weight of the law.”

The commander, NNS-Jubilee base in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, Commodore David Adegbola Adeniran, gave the warning at the naval base, while receiving in audience, the Ikpa Ibekwe council of chiefs, Ikot Abasi, who paid him a condolence visit over the recent demise of a Navy Rating in the area.

Commdr. Adeniran stated that the warning became necessary following observations that some people outside Navy were using the stickers to engage in dubious activities that could tarnish the reputations of the organisation.

According to Adeniran, “Reports reaching the base have it that people use the sticker to protect their criminal activities, particularly on illegal oil bunkering, sea piracy and other related criminalities within the maritime environment.”

He disclosed that “already the navy had set up a highly trained personnel team to beam its search light in all nooks and crannies” of the state, particularly in the maritime sector. The NNS-Jubilee commander said the condolence visit; carried out by the Ikpa Ibekwe council of chiefs of the local government area, had strengthened them and had equally shown that “the community has interest of the navy at heart.”

“It is quite unfortunate despite the risk associated with our job, one still prays and hopes that things like this will not happen again. The only comfort we have is that when we see elders and youths of our host communities coming out to pay condolence visit as you have done now, we feel relieved that we have been working together and you are also recognising our efforts towards ensuring security of your community,” he said.

The clan head of Ikpa Ibekwe clan council of chiefs, Etebom Akpan Akpan UwaUnio II, accompanied by the village head of IkotAbasi, Eteidung Inua Eshiet Ubeng, and secretary of the council, Mr. Udo Akpaneno, said that their visit was “to sympathise with the navy authority and the family of the deceased over the demise of one of their gallant ratings, while in active service”, and prayed God to “grant the bereaved family and the navy, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

Uwa Unio II used the occasion to call on the federal government to expedite action by commencing work at the naval administration buildings and barracks, “as compensations have been paid for the acquired land at Ikot Abasi.”

He also commended the navy in policing the maritime environment, saying, “This has enhanced immensely in checking the menace of illegal oil bunkering operations, piracy and vandalisation of pipelines within the Ikot Abasi shorelines and its neighbourhoods.”

•Photo shows Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.