By Francis Sadhere
The Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Hassan Usman, has said that the report in one of the national dailies that alleged that three persons were killed at Ugborodo community last Saturday could heat up the polity, describing the report as baseless and unfounded.
He made this remark at a press briefing held late this evening at the Nigeria Naval Ship, NNS, Delta, Warri.
He said; “We wish to draw the attention of the media and the general public to the facts that till this moment, no naval gunboat were involved in any operation that led to shoot out or alleged loss of lives as reported by the national daily.”
According to him; “No naval gunboats were involved in any operation that led to the shoot-out or the alleged lost of lives as reported by the national daily. Circulating reports that are untrue, unverified and baseless will only heat the polity which is not in the good interest of the Nigerian Navy and indeed the nation at large.”
“The task force had no confrontation with any community or group of persons. The said adhoc Task Force which the national newspaper alleged killed the three persons is not formed by Nigerian Navy but the entire security structure of Delta State.”
He said while counting on the unflinching cooperation of the media, the Nigerian Navy still looks forward to a robust synergy with the media.
He further explained that the task force was formed to ensure the security of the proposed site of Federal Government Multibillion dollars project, to keep open the sea lanes of communication and secure key points and vulnerable points.
He added that the said fracas was between Arotun and Madagho communities in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, stressing that the task force had remained neutral in the crisis.
“The setting up of the Task Force was as a result of the Delta State security council decision of 30th December 2013 to provide security in the proposed site for the Federal Government multi-billion dollar Gas City in Escravos,” he added.
