Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Officers and ratings of the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta (NNS Delta) at the weekend held a route march to keep fit with a warning to criminal elements to leave its Area of Responsibility (AOR) or be crushed.
The naval personnel, who left NNS Delta Base, Warri as early as 6 am, marched along Esisi, Estate, Airport and NPA Roads, which spanned over three kilometres and were led by NNS Delta Commander, Commodore Abba Muhsin, and other top officers.
The route march was part of the Nigerian Navy ideals to keep the officers and ratings physically fit and prepared for the task ahead.
Speaking with journalists at the end of the exercise, NNS Delta Commander, Commodore Abba Muhsin, expressed satisfaction with the fitness of his officers and ratings.
He said they were prepared to confront any untoward challenges in the course of securing the maritime domain in its Area of Responsibility, particularly in Delta State.
Commodore Muhsin, therefore, advised criminal elements to leave its Area of Responsibility peacefully and allow peaceful people of the state to live peacefully, conduct their activities and have a conducive environment to operate.
“I will advise those who don’t want to change their behaviour for good that NNS Delta Area of Responsibility (AOR) is not for them. So we are calling on them to leave peacefully so they allow peaceful people live in conducive environment.
“So for us they should leave. This is a simple task. They should just leave us alone. But as long as you say you will stay with us then definitely we are going to crush you,” he warned.
The NNS Delta Commander expressed appreciation to the people of the state, particularly Warri, for sustaining good civilian-military relationship over time.
He said: “I will like to thank the good people of Delta State, particularly citizens in Warri, because you could see that all children, women, young men, fathers and grand fathers, came out to wish us well, to support us.
“We are with them and they are with us. We enjoy this relationship and we are going to do even more to reach out to them. To show them that we are here to give them protection that the country deserves to give them. We are going to do that and will continue to do that until we see that they are not threatened.”
