The need for security on waterways

SECURITY on the waterways in South-South Nigeria will reduce kidnapping on the waterways of Lagos. It is 45 minutes journey by speedboat from Gelegele port, Edo State to Epe, Lagos State. The police should focus more on the waterways of Ondo, Edo and Delta States following the kidnapping of Air Vice Marshal Sikiru Smith (rtd). Security of the waterways in these states is porous. South-South governors and South-West governors should cooperate to restore security to the waterways. In Nigeria, consideration for both issues is no less important. For the country’s maritime environment to be conducive for business, its territorial waters must be devoid of criminals like pirates and kidnappers. As in land routes, insecurity in Nigerian waters and the entire Gulf of Guinea has been like a growing wound that has continued to fester. As the abduction of Air Vice Marshal Sikiru Smith (retd) entered day four, efforts to rescue him were expanded to other parts of the South-West with the involvement of special police operatives in Ogun and Oyo states.

Operatives of the South-West Security Network Agency, otherwise known as the Amotekun Corps, were also said to have been deployed to assist the police in combing forests to track down the kidnappers. A police source said Ogun and Oyo states, among other states in the region, were working with the Lagos State Police Command to rescue the retired general. “South-West states are now involved in the ongoing operation to rescue the retired general. All the special police operatives from these states will join forces with Lagos State to track down the kidnappers. “Also, Amotekun has been directed to join the operation and trail the kidnappers on land, while the Marine Police will monitor situations in the waterways,” the source said. Happily,  the retired officer has since regained freedom.

The west of coastal areas of Nigeria has been in the limelight in recent times due to kidnap activities. The Benin River waterway is the major link to creeks in the west of coastal states in Nigeria, that is Delta, Edo, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo. It takes 45 minutes by speed boat from Gelegele Port in Benin City in Edo State through the Benin River to Epe in Lagos. Securing Benin River is key to solving the problem of kidnapping in Edo, Lagos, Delta, Ogun and Ondo States. For certain reasons, kidnapping is now the commercial activity that is concentrated in the west of coastal locations and inland locations all over the west of coastal areas. The main threat to Lagos and Ogun States are the creeks,; where the militants are hiding now. “The Benin River is crucial in checking the activities of kidnappings and robberies because is the major link to creeks between Delta , Lagos, Ogun, Edo and Ondo States.,There is need for joint military task force for flushing out militants operating these creeks and that there is need to make the area safe from the activities of criminals.For several months, the rampaging militants and kidnappers held sway, as they ambushed security operatives who dared to enter the creeks. The establishment of Naval Bases on Benin River waterways will drastically reduce the menace of kidnapping in Lagos and other parts of the west of coastal states. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) should focus more on Benin River waterways that connect creeks in Delta, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo and Edo States. The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) should, as a matter of urgency, open up the Benin River to security agencies to tackle kidnapping in Lagos by establishing more Naval Bases on the Benin-Lagos river waterways which most kidnappers in Lagos use freely. I am seriously concerned about reports of the kidnapping of Nigerian citizens and foreign nationals in Lagos State in the last few months.

I want to call on the Lagos State government to tackle the challenge of kidnapping which is currently on the rise. It should contact the Edo State government, the Ogun State government, Ondo State government and Delta State government to find lasting solutions to kidnapping in the west of coastal areas of Nigeria. The way to tackle the challenge is pro-active and dynamic enforcement measures, with strong inputs from the state governments, the armed forces, the media and the citizenry. Government must take steps because of the frequent attacks on vessels, police stations, and seafarers by gunmen suspected to be pirates and militants on the Lagos waterways.

• Donald, writes in via [email protected]