The Nigerian Navy on Tuesday deployed troops on board 14 platforms, including gunboats and aircraft, in a special military exercise code-named “Exercise Yangha Mi.”
David Adeniran, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, announced the deployment at the flag-off of the exercise in Onne, Rivers.
Mr Adeniran, a rear admiral, said that the three-day exercise was aimed at tackling the menace of pirates, oil smugglers and other criminal activities taking place in the nation’s waters.
“Exercise Yangha Mi, meaning ‘save me’ in Ibibio dialect, is one of the numerous operational engagements that the command is currently undertaking.
“The exercise will involve 14 platforms and 46 riverine boats taking part in the exercise from September 3 to September 6.
“No fewer than 5,000 personnel will participate in the exercise that includes those who are physically taking part in the exercise and others who are not.”
Mr Adeniran said that personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps would also participate in the exercise.
Others are the State Security Service (SSS), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
