Navy Hands Over 15 Oil Thieves, 6 Vessels To NSCDC
Adetokunbo Fakeye
Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt on Sunday handed over 15 suspected oil thieves and 6 vessels to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for prosecution.
Capt. Olusegun Soyemi, Executive Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, while performing the hand-over said, the suspects were arrested for their alleged involvement in illegal bunkering.
His words: “On Oct. 20, we got intelligence report about an illegal bunkering activity at a private jetty situated opposite the busy Slaughter market around Trans-Woji area in Port Harcourt,” Soyemi said.
“On arrival at the jetty, our troops accosted five vessels and a large wooden boat loading products suspected to be stolen diesel.
“The vessels, MV Denis, MV Faith, MV Lum VII, MV Eliora, and FP Comfort had no approval from Navy headquarters for the transaction”.
According to Soyemi, the prime suspect, who doubled as middleman for two companies fingered in the case, had provided useful information during preliminary investigations.
He warned those in the business of illegal oil bunkering not to sabotage oil and gas installations in the area and assured Nigerians that the Navy would not rest on its oars until illegal bunkering activities had stopped.
Mr Steven Morgan, NSCDC Head of anti-Vandal Unit, Rivers command while receiving the suspects and the vessels said that thorough and forensic investigation would be carried out on the suspects and vessels for eventual prosecution.
