Rescue Bonny From Siege Of Insecurity – Bonny Kingdom Urges New Navy Boss; It’s Home Coming For Me – Captain Fingesi

The Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Grand Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, DSSRS, JP, Edward I, Perekule XI, has charged the newly deployed Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (NN FOB), Bonny, Captain Emmanuel Fingesi to rescue Bonny Local Government Area and its environs from the siege of insecurity.

The Bonny Monarch gave this charge on Friday, February 21, 2025 when it received Capt. Fingesi, who led a delegation of the top brass of the NN FOB to visit him in-Council at the King Perekule Palace, Bonny, Rivers State.

King Edward I was represented by the Vice Chairman of the Bonny Chiefs’ Council, Se-Alabo Haniel Jack-Wilson Pepple, who stood in for the BCC Chairman, Se-Alabo (Amb.) Dagogo Soala Claude-Wilcox, MON.

Welcoming him to Bonny Kingdom and describing him as “a son that has come home”, the King called on him to mainstream tackling the hydra-headed security crises on the Bonny marine corridors which comprise the Bonny-Port Harcourt sea route and the adjoining rivers and creeks connecting with neighbouring communities.

King Pepple, who is a former Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers (RSCTR), expressed delight that somebody whom Bonny people can call ‘our own’ is the boss of the Forward Operating Base in Bonny.

He expressed confidence that Captain Fingesi would live up to his statement that he has come to add value and improve on the achievements of his predecessors, that Bonny Kingdom had had very good working relationship with all the previous FOB Commanding Officers in Bonny.

“Your speech was brief but very fundamental. You said you have come to add value. That is not a statement that you will forget very quickly; God will help you to actualize it by adding value indeed.”

“Permit me to draw your attention to a very serious problem we have in Bonny currently. Sea piracy has been a major challenge for us.”

“Our people are being robbed, kidnapped and killed on the sea on a regular basis. As we speak now, about 12 persons who were kidnapped some weeks ago are yet to return. So, you can imagine how we feel.”

“If you are traveling from Bonny to Port Harcourt or from Port Harcourt to Bonny, you will have your heart in your mouth until you reach your destination. We are now a kingdom under siege. Please, Captain, do something for us. We seriously need your intervention.”

He informed the new FOB Bonny CO that the people of Bonny are naturally accommodating and hospitable, assuring him of the total support and cooperation of Bonny Kingdom to enable him succeed during his tour of duty in Bonny LGA.

Earlier, the Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (NN FOB), Bonny, Captain Emmanuel Tamunosiki Fingesi had expressed gladness that he is ‘returning home’ to serve his people in a higher capacity, 15 years after leaving Bonny Kingdom where he served as Intelligence Officer of the Forward Operating Base.

“It is a thing of honour to be home, and to add value. Because that is exactly what I have come to do. I left here 15 years ago after serving as Intelligence Officer. Today, I am back. I will do my best to add value and to improve the security and prosperity of Bonny and indeed Nigeria.”