Viral Video: We remain apolitical, Navy warns

Nigerian Navy has called on the general public to refrain from involving the force in any form of political campaign as the 2023 general election approaches, and even beyond the election season as the Navy remains and will continue to remain apolitical.

Responding to what it described as a ‘Mischievous Video in Circulation Concerning a Nigerian Navy Ship in Distress’, the Navy urged the general public to jettison the video in totality.

In the video, a crew member of a Service Boat MV Pacesetter which signified interest to assist the Distressed Navy Ship, NNS Thunder, could be seen lamenting on “why a Nigerian Navy war ship should be in such a terrible and helpless situation at sea, and calling on Nigerians to vote for a particular Presidential candidate, otherwise the country will sink just like NNS Thunder”.

However, the Navy in a statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore AO Ayo-Vaughan said, “”The Navy will focus on her statutory responsibility of safeguarding the nation’s maritime environment against all forms of criminality so that maritime trade and crucial offshore economic related activities thrive seamlessly.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Nigerian Navy (NN) has been drawn to a derogatory video circulating on social media platforms emanating from an unidentified crew member of a service boat, Motor Vessel (MV) Pacesetter, stating that Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Thunder) was under distress and MV Pacesetter was dispatched to rescue NNS Thunder and possibly evacuate NNS Thunder’s crew or tow the Ship.

“In the video, the MV Pacesetter crew member lamented on why a Nigerian Navy war ship should be in such a terrible and helpless situation at sea, calling on Nigerians to vote for a particular Presidential candidate otherwise the country will sink just like NNS Thunder.

“Ordinarily, such a mischievous video would have been ignored in that it is clearly from an unpatriotic, clueless and unprofessional seafarer.