In a significant operation demonstrating their ongoing commitment to maritime security, the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry has intercepted and handed over bags of products suspected to be cannabis sativa to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Seme Special Area Command.
The interception occurred on May 31, 2024, at approximately 0620 hours, during a routine patrol along the waterways. Acting on credible intelligence, the naval personnel moved swiftly and intercepted the suspected drugs at the beachside near the Falcon Eye sensor, at Daddi, Barrier Island. The drugs, believed to have been smuggled from Ghana, were transported via a wooden boat and subsequently beach-landed.
On June 20, 2024, Lieutenant Commander BI Zoaka, the Base Operations Officer of FOB Badagry, officially handed over four seized sacks to Assistant Commander Narcotics Ogbogoh Emmanuel, all suspected to be cannabis sativa. This action aligns with the Harmonized Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention, and Prosecution (HSOP-AD&P) of 2016.
The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, has emphasized the mission to maintain a professionally competent naval force capable of defending Nigeria’s maritime interests. Under his leadership, the Nigerian Navy has intensified efforts to secure maritime environments and curb illegal activities. Supporting this mission, Rear Admiral Mustapha Bala Hassan, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, launched Operation WATER GUARD on November 9, 2023. This operation aims to deny smugglers and other criminal elements freedom of action within the Badagry General Area, thus ensuring regional security and economic stability.
The sustained efforts of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Badagry reflect the CNS Strategic Directive 2023-6, which seeks to secure the maritime environment of Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. This recent interception marks the second significant operation since the current administration of FOB Badagry assumed office in February 2024.
Captain Bitebobo Augustus Amakiri, Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Badagry, commended the personnel for their vigilance and dedication, reiterating the navy’s commitment to national security and economic prosperity through sustained maritime security operations.
