By Tola Gbadamosi

In furtherance of the mandate of Operation Delta Sanity, the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Igbokoda distributed over 1,000 free educational materials to students of Ilaje High School in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The event, which is tagged as part of Operation Delta Sanity’s non-kinetic efforts, took place on the school premises and featured the free distribution of educational materials, a career talk, a health talk, and a mass school deworming exercise.

Speaking at the event, the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, FOB Igbokoda, Navy Captain Wasuku Alushi, described the exercise as part of the mandate of Operation Delta Sanity.

His words: “Delta Sanity is conducted broadly along two lines of effort; the kinetic line of effort, which involves the deployment of raw military power to curb criminality in the Niger Delta environment, and the non-kinetic efforts, which include community advocacy and other non-kinetic initiatives like what we did today.”

“Our choice to embark on an educational initiative here at Igbokoda as part of the non-kinetic effort is very intentional. The reason is that there is a nexus between education and national security. Every idea, whether positive or negative, starts from the mind, and if the mind is not liberated, there isn’t much that can be achieved.

“This is why we feel we should engage with these students today to ‘sanitize their minds’ and also extend the Chief of the Naval Staff’s kind gesture to them.

“Earlier this year, precisely on January 10, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, flagged off Delta Sanity 1 with the broad objective of sensitizing the Niger Delta environment against the menace of crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, and other vices such as kidnapping and cultism.

“We are here to counter that narrative by promoting a positive perspective.” Captain Alushi advised the students to remain focused and say no to negative vices.

Speaking on the initiative, the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, lauded the effort, saying it would encourage the students in various areas, including health, education, and career planning.

Dignitaries at the event included the representative of the  State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Fayanju, the Principal and management staff of the school and heads of security agencies.