The immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, retired Vice-Adm. Usman Jibrin, says the government will succeed in its fight against insurgency in the country with support from the public.
Jibrin, one of the service chiefs retired by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 14, made the assertion at his pulling out ceremony on Wednesday in Lagos.
“There is no way the government will be able to fight insurgency in the country without the contribution of members of the public.
“Through intelligence reports, security agents can unravel where explosives are being made.
“These people are among us; it is very difficult to know suicide bombers but with information about their operations they could be unravelled.
“And since they are among us, the materials used to manufacture explosives are sold in Nigerian stores.
“Once such materials are stolen from you, you should be able to report to the security agents,’’ he said.
Jibrin enumerated his successes during his 18 months as Chief of Naval Staff to include arrest of vessels and crew members involved in oil theft and checking illegal bunkering.
He noted that under his command, four ships were commissioned for the Nigerian Navy among other achievements.
He suggested that crude oil from arrested vessels should be evacuated by the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to the refineries for local use after due documentation by the appropriate government agencies.
“Furthermore, Nigerian Navy personnel should be involved in physicalisation at the point of loading crude oil for proper supervision and accountability.’’
He urged the officers and ratings to live up to the security challenges in the country, noting that the nation’s defence and security were fast evolving.
“As a service, the Navy must remain alive to her constitutional responsibilities at all times to constantly remain relevant to the Nigerian people,’’ he said.
Jibril, who thanked the government for the opportunity to serve as Chief of Naval Staff, called on Nigerians to support the government to be able to arrest insurgency through information.
Jibrin’s oldest daughter, Mrs Hadiza Aboko, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the event that time came when the family members were afraid of his life due to insurgency.
“For more than 30 years, he has been in military operations. We are happy that our father is now free from such.
“I was equally very happy when he was appointed Chief of Naval Staff,’’ Hadiza said.
NAN reports that Jibrin after inspecting a parade by eight Divisions, was pulled out by ceremonially dressed Officers, including the Navy, Air force, Army and the Police to the jetty.
From the jetty, he entered Nigerian Navy Ship, Benin and sailed to the Dockyard with his immediate family members.
The colourful event that lasted about four and half hours, took place at the Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos, and attracted Service Chiefs and Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos.
Others guests were the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, who was represented by two members of his cabinet and the family members of the retired seaman. (NAN)