The Nigerian Navy has
confirmed the arrest of three
Ghanaians and 24 Nigerians
over their alleged involvement
in the theft of over 1.1million
litres of crude oil along the
creek of Egweama in Brass
Local Government Area of
Bayelsa State.
The three Ghanaians, were
arrested on board a Vessel, MT
Frankesen with nine Nigerian
accomplices on the 24th of
October with 1,092,000 litres of
stolen crude oil.
While the other 15 Nigerians
were arrested at separate raids
on the 25th of September and
10th of October aboard a small
tug boat known as MV Jehovah
Miracle 3 and a wooden boat
offshore of BrassRiver in
BayelsaState.
The Command Operations
Officer of the Central Naval
Command, Commodore E.O
Enemor, said the arrest was
made by the combat unit of the
Navy, the Forwarding Operating
Base (FORMOSO) led by
Captain Aniedi Ibok.
Enemor, while speaking in
Yenagoa during the hand over
ceremony of the 27 suspected
oil thieves to the representative
of the Police Commissioner in
Bayelsa, Mr. Christian
Nworgbo, said the arrest were
in furtherance of the Nigerian
Navy’s effort at eradicating all
forms of illegalities and criminal
tendencies in Nigerian waters.
According to him,”the vessel,
with crew of 9 Nigerians and
three Ghanaians, known as MT
Frankensen, was arrested on
the 24 October for loading
about 1.092 million litres of
suspected stolen crude oil.
“Laboratory analysis of sample
product confirmed the product
to be crude oil.
“The captain of the vessel did
not posses relevant
documents, licence and
permits, for it’s presence in the
vicinity.”
The Ship’s log showed that the
vessel had made previous trips
from Akassa to Ghana, thus
suggesting serial involvement
in illegal bunkering.”
Enemor also announced that
the interception and arrest of a
small tug boat and wooden
boat along Brass river was
based on lack of proper
permit.15 Nigerians were
arrested in the operation.
According to him, “the series of
hand over ceremonies under
scores the determination of the
Nigerian Navy to ensure that
those who commit economic
crimes against our dear nation
do not go unpunished.It is
believed that the current effort
by the Navy will address the
monumental environmental
challenges arising from leakage
of petroleum products at the
numerous illegal refining sites
in the region.”
In his comment, the
representative of the Bayelsa
Police Command, Mr. Christian
Nwogbo, announced that the
61 suspects handed over to the
Police in September have been
arraigned at the Federal High
Court.
Posted via obasco etubi
0 comments:
Post a Comment