Officers of Nigerian Navy on Friday in Warri, Delta State paraded before newsmen a vessel, MT Eyuwa, laden with 670 metric tons of suspected stolen crude oil.
Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, flanked by Commodore Raimi Mohammed, the Commander of NNS Delta, and other naval officers paraded the vessel.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 10 suspects apprehended on board the ship were also paraded at the Warri Naval Base.
Addressing journalists, Suleiman said the ship was apprehended on December 14 at Forcados Oil Terminal in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
He said: “About three weeks ago, we arrested a similar vessel christened MT Camilee at the Forcados Oil Terminal.
“The fight against oil theft is real.
“We are going after the perpetrators.
“We will not rest at our oars until we achieve zero tolerance as directed by the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
“The vessel is 110 metres long and the crew members apprehended on board are Nigerians.
“We have said it times without number that we shall make the business of oil theft unattractive to the perpetrators by keeping the territorial waterways under constant patrol.”
The Naval boss said the Navy was expanding its scope with the use of sophisticated equipment to effectively curtail the activities of criminals on the waterways.
Suleiman warned the perpetrators to desist from the illicit act, saying it was counter-productive to the economy.
Also speaking, Mohammed said the command had achieved much in less than six weeks.
He said between October 26 and December 18, the command apprehended 4,200 metric tons of stolen crude oil and also destroyed 965 metric tons of crude within the same period.
Mohammed said over 40 suspects were apprehended in the various operations.
“We have also destroyed 22.1 metric tons of Automotive Gasoline Oil, 7.8 metric tons of Dual Purpose Kerosene, over 18 Cotonuo boats and several speed boats.
“Within the one and half months I have spent as commander here, we have achieved so much in terms of destruction of illegal refineries and we have been able to diminish their operations.
“Not much is taking place around us.
“That is why we have expanded our surveillance and now going into the sea.”
The commander said his men were still patrolling the creeks to ensure that illegal refineries that were destroyed do not spring up again.
Captain of the seized vehicle, John Fregene, said his boss, identified just as Robinson, told him to take the vessel to Calabar, Cross River State for maintenance.
Fregene said: “I was on my way from the Lagos River to Calabar when my boss called me that I should go to Forcados and be on a standby that he will give me further instructions.
“When I got there, he gave instruction that we are going to load AGO, but I said we are going for maintenance in Calabar.
“He said I should obey his instruction.”
However, another suspect, Joseph Ojugbale (ship engineer), said they were instructed by their boss (Robinson) to go to Forcados and load AGO.
NAN.
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