Stakeholders To Form Zonal Task Force Against Sea Pirates

Reuben Bojor/Calabar

The Zone 6 Command of the Nigerian Police, Calabar, southern Nigeria, has formulated means of curbing the upsurge in the activities of militants and sea pirates around its waterways.

Until recently, unlike other riverian areas around the Niger-Delta region, sea pirates and militants have been carrying out nefarious activities along the coastal areas of Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.

Follwing this challenge, the AIG in charge of Zone 6 Command, AIG Tunde Ogunshakin, hosted public, military and paramilitary officials from the three states at the Zonal Command headquarters in Calabar, to fashion out ways of securing the creeks.

Present at the meeting were the Deputy Governors of Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, Commisioners of Police of Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States, State Security Advisers of the three states, NAF boss, top DSS officials from the three states, Nigerian Navy boss in the region and all Mopol Squadron Commanders within the zone.

Speaking after the forum, the Police PRO of Zone 6, ASP. Rogers Elebe said it was a gathering aimed at forming a Zonal Task Force to combat militants and sea pirates attacks along the waterways of the Zone.

The ZTF will comprise the Police, Army, Navy and Air Force, while the funding will be the responsibility of the three state governments.

“You aware that of recent, militants and sea pirates have been troubling the coastal regions around the Zone 6 Command except for Ebonyi State which, though in the zone, is not included. This meeting is to create a synergy by forming a Zonal Task Force (ZTF) amongst the stakeholders, to curb the untoward activities of sea pirates and militants,” ASP. Elebe said.

In a bid to achieve the goal and the set objectives, a team of all service heads have been formed with the task of mapping out strategies on funding and drafting of the Zonal Task Force.

Also, the stakeholders are to further meet Tuesday in Akwa Ibom State where the ZTF will be drafted and operations would commence.