By Navy Lieutenant Godwin Oscar Sampson (rtd), ANIPR
In recent weeks, there has been an unfortunate public misunderstanding surrounding the duties of naval personnel assigned to former Service Chiefs. As someone who has served this nation in uniform, I find it necessary—indeed, a duty—to address these misconceptions and defend the honor of the Nigerian Navy.
The Nigerian Armed Forces remain one of the most disciplined institutions in our country. Every military personnel, from the lowest rank to the highest, holds a sacred responsibility entrusted by the nation. For commissioned officers, particularly those of the Nigerian Navy, this responsibility means embodying strength, discretion, tact, intelligence, and unwavering professionalism. It is a calling that demands total loyalty.
This is why it is troubling when the roles of officers like Lieutenant A.A. Yerima, who has been assigned as Security Officer to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral A.Z. Gambo (rtd), are misrepresented or casually dismissed.
Let us be clear.
Naval officers do not casually volunteer for assignments; they are deployed where the nation needs them most. One of those recognized duties is the protection of retired Service Chiefs—a role steeped in long-standing military tradition and operational necessity. To imply otherwise is to misunderstand how the Armed Forces function.
Lieutenant Yerima’s responsibilities have been far-reaching: personal protection, residential security, access control, surveillance, emergency response, and the safeguarding of personal items in accordance with naval housekeeping standards. These tasks require precision, maturity, leadership, and extreme vigilance. They are not “casual duties,” nor are they for the untrained.
Yet some narratives circulating today attempt to paint these officers as touts, or worse, as individuals misusing military authority. These claims are not only false—they are profoundly unfair.
The truth is that Lt. Yerima and his team acted strictly within the confines of their lawful duties.
They were not protecting wealthy civilians.
They were not obstructing any government official.
They were not engaged in any form of misconduct.
They were doing exactly what the Nigerian Navy assigned them to do—protect a retired Service Chief, his household, and his premises.
And they did so with dignity.
The Navy’s core values—Integrity, Professionalism, and Teamwork—are not slogans. They are guiding principles lived out daily by officers like Lt. Yerima. His conduct has been praised by Nigerians who observed his work firsthand. His leadership is an example of what disciplined service looks like in practice.
So when misinformation circulates, it does more than distort facts—it dishonors the sacrifices of those who serve and those who have served before them. It weakens public trust in an institution that stands as a stabilizing force in our democracy.
If there is any institution in Nigeria that has consistently upheld discipline and national loyalty, it is the Nigerian Navy. Its officers deserve appreciation—not baseless criticism.
Our military personnel are the silent guardians of our nation. They ask for no applause, but they deserve fairness. They endure long nights, difficult duties, and countless personal sacrifices so that the rest of us may live in peace.
To diminish their service is to diminish our collective security.
As a nation, we must resist the temptation to criticize what we do not understand. Instead, let us stand with those who continue to stand guard over our nation.
The Nigerian Navy deserves nothing less.
HRH Ezeudo I
Ogwu Ikpele Kingdom
Ogbaru LGA, Anambra State
Navy Lieutenant Godwin Oscar Sampson (rtd), ANIPR
