Mohammed: A Tour of Duty That Served Bonny Well

When Captain, as he then was, Maksum Mohammed, though Commodore now, arrived Bonny in February 2024, to assume command of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (NN FOB) things were a bit sketchy as to what challenges he was to grapple with.

As he began his tour of duty, his predecessor, Commodore Reginald Adoki, who himself is a fine sailor, marine security expert and combat commander, in the course of the transfer of command debriefed him on the situation of things within and around the Base, then took him around to engage with stakeholders in Bonny LGA.

With that, he set out to face frontally the task ahead, defined or undefined. Priority was the security and safety of residents and visitors to Bonny Island, protection of critical national assets in the area and decimation of all threats to national security and national economy. These onerous tasks he was to achieve in consonance with sister security agencies being the most senior security officer in rank in the area.

From security mapping of the area to threat analysis, suspect identification and profiling, determination of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, operational planning, assets evaluations and strategic deployment of same, and general coordination, though a daunting task, he confronted them head-on being the smart sailor he has always been, having been commanding the Nigerian Navy’s Special Boat Service (SBS).

Coincidence saw him holding dual command of the FOB Bonny and SBS until he was divested of the SBS command. While there, he had commanded and coordinated several high-profile kinetic interventions that saw to the neutralization of security threats in and around the country. The SBS is widely acclaimed as Nigeria’s version of the elite sea, air and land special intervention force curated after the United States’ Navy SEALs and United Kingdom’s Special Boat Service (SBS).

Across the broad spectrum of his area of responsibility, were issues such as pipeline vandalism, illegal refining sites, sea robbery, piracy, kidnap for ransom gangs, non-adherence to marine safety and security protocols by commercial boat operators, pockets of protests, and rogue ships and vessels, amongst others. Cdre Mohammed was able to navigate around these issues dealing them a death blow one after the other, and these unassumingly.

Most celebrated of his achievements was the rescue of 20 stranded passengers who would have been kidnapped for ransom had he and his troops not arrived on time to evacuate them to the jetty at Coal Beach in Bonny Island. Several illegal refining sites and their off-taking vessels and boats were destroyed under his watch, the operators apprehended and handed over to the relevant prosecuting agencies.

In the same vein, several vessels that either were not switching on their automatic identification systems (AIS), or not possessing the requisite documentation, carrying undocumented crew members, or performing illegal maritime activities were apprehended and the relevant sanctions applied to them, serving as deterrent to other would-be defaulters.

Internally among his troops, he raised the bar of discipline and commitment through regular re-orientation programs, emplacement of sanctions and rewards for good conduct. Not leaving out troops’ welfare, he upgraded the dining hall and galley of the officers’ mess, improved those of the senior and junior ratings, as well as, improved other basic amenities around the Base. All of these were aimed at ensuring the soldiers under him fared well while under his command.

A few instances of misdemeanour by some ratings were adequately addressed by inflicting tough sanctions on the erring personnel and strategically engaging community stakeholders to douse brewing tensions and managing sensitivities within the community. In some instances, community members were granted the privilege of receiving free medicals from the Base’s clinic.   

Exuding accountability, patriotism and loyalty, he hosted several of his reviewing officers including the Commander, NNS Pathfinder; Commodore Desmond Igbo, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command; Rear Admiral Saheed Akinwande, Commander, Operation Delta Safe; Rear Admiral John Okeke, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.

On the political turf, he also received the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, as well as join his 146 Battalion Nigerian Army counterpart, Lt. Oyewumi Oyemade, to receive the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, when they visited Bonny Island.

In terms of community interface, he did well as he worked closely with the Bonny Local Government, Traditional Institution, and various other stakeholders. This mutually beneficial stakeholding disposition served well to reinforce the relationship between the community and the Nigerian Navy. To buttress this, when, under his command, the FOB Bonny lost its Base Operations Officer (BOO) to an accident at sea during a rescue operation, there was a massive outpouring of grief from community members.

Consolidating on his interface with communities within his area of responsibility, the FOB Bonny Commanding Officer, as he then was, deployed corporate social responsibility (CSR) by having the Base adopt Community Secondary School, Burukiri in Bonny LGA. A school isolated by its location and neglect by governmental institutions.

Given the myriad issues affecting the school, Cdre Mohammed procured a speedboat with outboard engine for the school to ease the dilemma of transportation from the main land to the location of the school. He also ensured that the outstanding debt owed the boat pilot by the school was paid off, as well as took up the subsequent payment of the pilot’s salary and the responsibility of fuelling the boat monthly.

Under his leadership, the FOB Bonny also purchased and donated life vests to fishermen in Lighthouse Fishing Settlement in Finima Community also in Bonny LGA. Presenting the items to the beneficiaries, the CO’s representative, Capt. Gerald Daloeng, who is the Executive Officer of the Base, espoused the Nigerian Navy’s avowal to the safety of sea goers, as well as advising them to be mindful of large vessels plying same route where they conduct their fishing expeditions.

On the whole, Commodore Maksum Mohammed began and ended his tour of duty in Bonny LGA and its environs on a high note of verifiable success. As he moves to further and higher responsibilities in the Nigerian Navy, it is trite to acknowledge his efforts while in Bonny and articulate it for posterity. He did well.