The Nigerian Navy (NN) yesterday warned maritime criminals to keep off western waters or have themselves to blame.

Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, WNC, Rear Admiral Mohammed Abdullahi, gave the warning after assuming headship of the command in Apapa, Lagos.

Abdullahi took over from Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan, who was redeployed to the Naval Headquarters as Chief of Policy and Plans (CPPLANs).

A former Director of Communications, Naval Headquarters, the new FOC promised to redouble efforts at ensuring that criminals do not have their way in the command’s area of responsibility.

He stressed that Lagos Command was a “no go area” for criminals, assuring that no stone would be left unturned in fulfilling the Navy’s constitutional duties.

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“I believe in the core value of team work and professionalism and together I believe we will conquer. We will do well as a command to make sure that the navy’s constitutional role of defending the maritime territorial integrity, policing roles, are all discharged with utmost professionalism.

“I want to thank the outgone FOC for doing well because he has achieved a lot of progress.

“For the rest of us I solicit your support because it is our navy and I believe all of us will do it well because no man can do it alone,” he said.

Earlier, Admiral Akpan urged officers of the command to support his successor.

He also warned criminals to stay off Lagos waters because any attempt would be resisted from the surface and the skies.