The Nigerian Navy on Thursday called for more effective collaboration between security agencies and locals in order to tackle crime in Rivers State.
Capt. Kolawole Oguntuga, the Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base in Bonny, who made the call during the inauguration of a free medical outreach to commemorate its 63rd anniversary decried the upsurge in criminality across various communities and on waterways in the state.
He also expressed optimism that fighting crime and criminality would be successful if the residents become fully involved.
Oguntuga said that Navy and other sister security agencies are ready to confront illegal bunkers, oil thieves, sea pirates, kidnappers, and robbers, among others.
According to him: “We are for the people as well as working for the people by providing security. But, we cannot achieve our mandate of proving security without the necessary support from the people.
“We need to work together to be able to end insecurity in the state.
“The people should work with us to end criminality that is ravaging our society,” he said.
Oguntuga added that the navy was currently strengthening its relationship with the people with a view to securing the country’s maritime domain from criminals.
“The navy under Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas is interested in building the nation, and one area he is doing this is the provision of quality healthcare services to our host communities.
“So, we are doing this free medical outreach to inform the people that the Navy and indeed the military are interested in our host communities,” he said.
He said that residents would have the opportunity to check their blood pressures and blood sugar levels as well as obtain medication for ailments detected during the checks.
He also explained that those diagnosed with major ailments would be referred to the General Hospital in Bonny as well as to other hospitals in Port Harcourt for treatment.
Also speaking, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar, Surgeon Commander Uchenna Okeke, who led the naval medical team from Cross River, assured that patients would be diagnosed and treated.
She said that treatment would also be given to residents found with disorders in their dentition while those with impaired eyesight would be given free glasses.
