Akwa Ibom CP Seeks Stronger Intelligence Sharing, Joint Operations to Combat Maritime Crimes
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Idongesit Ashameri
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, has called for stronger intelligence sharing, enhanced surveillance and sustained joint operations among security agencies to safeguard the nation’s waterways and critical assets.
The concern stems from the growing sophistication of maritime crimes threatening Nigeria’s coastal economy.
Azare made the call on Monday while receiving the Commandant of the Naval Warfare College Nigeria, Rear Admiral M.A. Muye, and participants of Naval Warfare Course 10, who were in Akwa Ibom on an operational study visit focusing on maritime security and socio-economic development.
The police commissioner warned that criminal activities within the maritime domain, including sea piracy, illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, kidnapping along waterways, smuggling and human trafficking, pose serious threats to national economic growth and security.
He noted that Akwa Ibom occupies a strategic position within Nigeria’s coastal architecture and remains a major hub for oil and gas production, fisheries, maritime transportation and tourism, all of which contribute significantly to national revenue.
According to him, securing the maritime environment is indispensable to sustainable socio-economic development, stressing that insecurity undermines investment and threatens critical national assets.
Azare said the Command had continued to deploy intelligence-led policing, waterway patrols, community engagement initiatives and crime prevention strategies in collaboration with sister security agencies operating within the maritime sector.
He stressed that no single agency could effectively tackle maritime threats without coordinated efforts involving the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Department of State Services, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other stakeholders.
“The growing sophistication of maritime crimes demands stronger intelligence sharing, joint operations, improved surveillance capabilities, deployment of modern technology, enhanced protection of oil and gas installations and sustained capacity building for security personnel,” Azare said.
The police commissioner further maintained that maritime security remains a fundamental requirement for economic prosperity, saying a secure maritime environment attracts investment, boosts commerce, creates jobs and enhances the welfare of coastal communities.
“No nation can fully harness the benefits of its maritime resources in an atmosphere of insecurity. A secure maritime environment protects critical national assets, promotes commerce and improves the overall well-being of coastal communities.
“Effective maritime security requires a coordinated approach involving security agencies and relevant community stakeholders,” Azare said
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command reiterated its commitment to deepening collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and other agencies in protecting the nation’s waterways, combating maritime crimes and creating an enabling environment for sustainable economic development.
Speaking during the visit, the Commandant of the Naval Warfare College, Rear Admiral Muye, commended the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for its operational achievements and contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the state
“The insights gained during this visit will greatly enrich the academic and operational experiences of participants of Naval Warfare Course 10,” Muye said.
