Navy denies losing officer to electoral violence in Bayelsa

The Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Yenagoa, has denied losing a rating officer to electoral violence in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State during last Saturday’s state assembly election in the state.

Commodore Joseph Akpan, in a statement in Yenagoa, on Monday on behalf of the Flag Officer Commanding the Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, said that though it was true that the command lost a rating officer, his death had nothing to do with election-related violence or politics.

He disclosed that the naval rating officer was on escort duty onboard a ship at the sea which unfortunately came under attack offshore Brass, and suffered a fatal gunshot wound and later died in a hospital in Brass town.

He said: “The command wishes to state unequivocally that personnel of the Nigerian Navy remains apolitical, resolutely neutral and will continue to adhere strictly to its professional code of conduct.

“The media is hereby advised to always verify information from the approximate source before rushing to press in order to avoid spreading of fake news that is capable of misleading the public,” he said.