by crossriverwatch admin
Brigadier General Okwudili Azinta, the outgoing Commander of 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army said Wednesday in Calabar that 36 petroleum tankers and six “Cotonou’’ boats used in oil bunkering in Cross River were destroyed while he was in charge of the Brigade.
Brig. Azinta who was presenting a scorecard of his activities while handing over to the new Commander of the Brigade stated that the tankers and boats were destroyed at different locations across the state by members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in 2013.
According to him, oil theft in Cross River has reduced drastically while most creeks that were used to refine stolen petroleum products were also destroyed.
“With the combined efforts of the JTF in Cross River, sea robbery and piracy have also reduced in the waterways of Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
“Also, there is no militant camp in Cross River, the Efut Esighi militant and shrine camp in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River have been destroyed by the Nigerian Army.
“All these were made possible by the zero tolerance of illegal oil bunkering in the state,’’ he said.
On the area of training, he said that the command under his leadership, trained 40 officers on intelligence information gathering.
“The Army needs appropriate and timely information to strengthen its operational network.
“The Army also needs expertise to collate, gather and make information analysis which could be used to arrest crisis before it escalate.
“The idea of the training was nursed from the fact that the military needs such training on war fare in the present 21st century, ’’ he said.
The Commander also said that the Brigade under his command hosted and won the 82 Division Inter-Brigade Proficiency Combat Competition.
The Commander said he executed a number of projects in the barracks, ranging from the renovation of the old residence of the former Governor-General of Southern Nigeria.
Others were Single Officers’ accommodation, 13 Brigade Urban Communication mast, a block of 30 flats for soldiers and others.
Azinta has been posted to 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Benin, Edo state as the new Commander in the current redeployment of military officers.
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