Asaba — Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim, has warned that the problem of illegal oil bunkering in the country will not end, unless the people and government of the Niger Delta region take security as a priority in their agenda.

Ishaya, who gave the warning yesterday in Asaba, Delta State capital, during a courtesy call on Governor Emmnauel Uduaghan , said " militancy in the Niger Delta may go but criminality will not go because, the saboteurs and those who want to grow faster than their legs would continue to introduce more sophisticated dimension to achieve their aims."

Ishaya, who said he was in the state along with top officers of his command to appraise the security situation in the water ways, pointed out that "recent arrest made by his officers is a pointer that we still have more struggle ahead to attain the desired security of the area and ensure safety of our dear ones", adding that, "the dimension is such that we cannot fold our hands."

He said Nigerians image has been dented so badly in the international community because of the level of criminality in the country, which is traceable to the incidences of kidnapping, armed robbery and restiveness in the Niger Delta.

"Late last month, I was in US for an international symposium and my attention was drawn to a report in Cable Network News (CNN) which survey on the security environment around the world and Nigeria toped the list of the most unsecured area, I will say this with all sincerity because we just have to wake up to our collective responsibilities to redeem our good name," he said.

While soliciting the corporation of the governor of the Navy to contain insecurity in the state, Isiaya said "criminals go where they will get what they want, thieves go to where there is something to steal, so it will be so difficult to put a stop to the criminal activates in our waters, because the dimension and sophistication will keep in increasing and the involvement of illegal oil bunkering who sell the content to pirates, adding that the Navy will do everything possible to contain the situation".

Governor Udughan while responding said the state government has take security issue as a priority and promised to offer assistance where necessary.