The Nigerian Navy, Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos has arrested three members of the Oodua People’s Congress and 14 others for allegedly hijacking a vessel conveying crude oil on the Nigerian sea from Ondo State to Lagos State.
The OPC members – Peter Abayomi, Olabameru Owolemi and Segun Ikudenbu – who were hired from Igbokoda, Ondo State to carry out the operation, led the hijackers.
The 14 hijackers are crew members of the vessel.
According to the naval authorities, two pump-action rifles with other ammunition were recovered from the gang after their arrest.
The suspects were apprehended at about 6am on Tuesday with the vessel, LONG ISLAND, near the Lagos Anchorage Point, Apapa.
Abayomi, 23, said he was promised N50,000 by an oil dealer in Ondo State if he and others could successfully secure the stolen vessel and take it to the agreed destination in Rivers State.
Abayomi said the name of the dealer is Ogo Obebe.
Daniel Lebile, 55, Captain of the Vessel, said he and his crew members were ordered by the security men at gunpoint to pilot the ship.
Lebile added that they had no option than to obey.
The Flag Officer Commanding of the Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade, said the naval authorities had sent the recovered product to the Department of Petroleum Resources for examination, adding that investigations were still ongoing on the matter.
Alade’s words:
“Going by efforts to make the Nigerian waters safe for only legitimate businesses, we received intelligence report that an offshore service was conveying products suspected to be stolen crude oil with armed hijackers.
“The vessel was successfully intercepted and the suspects on board all arrested.
“When investigations are concluded, they’ll be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies.
“We want the public to always feed us with information so that we can arrest more criminally minded people.”
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