Navy insists Merchant Vessel CECELIA arrested for oil theft

• FG lauds security outfit for pipeline protect
• Urges stakeholders to join fight against economic sabotage 

Nigeria Navy High Command has urged Nigerians to disregard allegations by owners of Merchant Vessel, CECELIA, arrested and burnt by operatives for alleged oil theft.

Navy spokesman, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, told newsmen that the vessel was trailed for a long time by intelligence operatives.

Recall that the vessel, arrested with about 350,000 litres of allegedly stolen Automated Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, in Woji, Obio/Akpor Local Council of Rivers State, was set ablaze by the personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship, Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, while three suspects were arrested.

The naval spokesman said:  “To set the records straight, MV CECELIA has been a vessel of interest and was being tracked for allegations of oil theft. The vessel was arrested on August 15, 2023 with products suspected to be illegally refined AGO at Meco Jetty, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following an operation by the Naval Component of OPDS.

“A press briefing was conducted immediately after the arrest. However, owners of the vessel remained at large. Subsequently, the sample of the products onboard the vessel was taken for laboratory analysis and was discovered to be illicit AGO.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said it is impressed with efforts of the Military Joint Task Force and private security companies in the fight against oil theft in the Niger Delta.
The delegation of the Federal Government, headed by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, made the commendation, on Saturday, after inspection of some pipelines and oil facilities in Oil Mining Lease (OML11), in Owaza Community, Okwa-West Council of Abia State, and Oil Wellhead 25, Odogwa, in Etche Council of Rivers State.

The NSA complimented the effort of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the private security firm saddled with securing pipelines, saying his mission was to have an on-spot assessment and report to the president the situation in the oil-rich region, which will aid the formation of policies.

Ribadu said: “I am excited to see what is going on. Our security forces are working hard. We have seen the work of those employed by NNPCL to give extra support in trying to secure those places. But this is something that all of us in Nigeria should say enough is enough.”