By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, PhD, mni, OFR, has approved the deployment of two operational gunboats to the Rivers State Command in a strategic move aimed at strengthening security across the state’s waterways and coastal communities.

The approval comes amid renewed efforts by the Corps to combat criminal activities on the nation’s inland waterways, particularly in areas prone to oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering, sea piracy, kidnapping, and the trafficking of illicit substances. The additional maritime assets are expected to significantly enhance the operational capacity of the Rivers State Command and improve surveillance, rapid response, and enforcement activities within the riverine environment.

Speaking on the development, the Rivers State Command described the gesture as a demonstration of the Commandant General’s unwavering commitment to providing the necessary logistics and operational support required to tackle emerging security challenges. The command noted that the gunboats would boost patrol operations and strengthen the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure located within the state’s waterways.

In a related development, NSCDC operatives attached to the Rivers State Command arrested three suspected illicit drug traffickers during a routine security operation conducted within the command’s area of responsibility. The suspects were apprehended following intelligence-driven surveillance activities aimed at disrupting criminal networks operating in the state.

Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the suspects were in possession of substances suspected to be prohibited narcotics. Acting in accordance with established inter-agency collaboration protocols, the NSCDC promptly transferred the suspects and the recovered exhibits to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Command reiterated its commitment to working closely with sister security agencies to ensure that criminal elements have no safe haven within Rivers State. It stressed that effective collaboration among security institutions remains critical to addressing the complex security threats confronting the country.

Security analysts have consistently identified waterways as strategic corridors often exploited by criminal syndicates for the movement of illegal products, weapons, and narcotics. The deployment of additional maritime assets is therefore expected to improve intelligence gathering and strengthen law enforcement presence in vulnerable riverine communities.

The Rivers State Command further assured residents, investors, and maritime operators that the Corps would continue to intensify patrols and surveillance activities across creeks, jetties, waterfronts, and other critical locations. According to the command, proactive security measures remain essential to safeguarding lives, property, and economic assets within the state.

Observers have described the approval of the gunboats as a timely intervention, particularly at a period when security agencies are intensifying efforts to curb economic sabotage and organized criminal activities in the Niger Delta region. The development is also expected to enhance confidence among communities that depend on waterways for transportation and commerce.

The NSCDC has in recent years expanded its maritime security operations as part of broader efforts to secure critical infrastructure and support national economic stability. The Corps has continued to play a prominent role in the protection of oil and gas facilities, anti-vandalism operations, and the enforcement of laws designed to preserve national assets.

Residents have been encouraged to remain vigilant and provide useful information to security agencies to aid ongoing efforts to combat crime. The command emphasized that community participation remains an indispensable component of effective security management.

The Rivers State Command reaffirmed its readiness to deploy all lawful means and available resources to confront criminality and ensure a safer environment for residents. It also pledged to sustain intelligence-led operations capable of preventing security breaches before they occur.

With the addition of the two gunboats and the successful arrest of the suspected drug traffickers, the NSCDC has once again demonstrated its determination to strengthen internal security, secure strategic waterways, and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s fight against crime and illicit trafficking.

The latest achievements further underscore the vision of the Commandant General to build a highly responsive, well-equipped, and professionally driven Corps capable of effectively addressing contemporary security challenges across Nigeria’s land and maritime domains.