• Hands over fake officer, others to police
• Two foreigners arrested for smuggling over 5,000kg of Cannabis in Lagos
Men of the Nigerian Navy (Forward Operating Base) in Igbokoda, Ondo State, have arrested 28 suspects for allegedly stealing 527,810 litres of crude oil.
The suspects were nabbed, following intelligence received by the Anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team (COT).
Speaking to journalists at Naval Base in Igbokoda, the Commanding Officer, Captain Wasuku Alushi, said: “We intercepted a wooden boat, popularly known as ‘Cotonou Boat’, laden with crude oil, around Illepte, offshore, at the Awoye riverine community in Ilaje.
“Based on credible intelligence, our men of the COT and illegal oil bunkering team intercepted… Eleven men on the ground trans-shipped the suspected stolen crude into another boat as the first boat was taking in water. Two other speedboats were also arrested, alongside the wooden boat.”
The commanding officer added that a 15,000-metric-ton vessel, identified as MT Vinnalaris 1 Lagos, laden with about 515,870 litres of stolen crude oil, had been intercepted a few days ago.
According to him, 17 suspects were arrested, seven nautical miles off the coast of Awoye Riverine community, as siphoned crude oil from a wellhead operated by Conoil, at Ebesan oil field.
Alushi reiterated the commitment of the base to stamp out crimes in Igbokoda and environs.
He said the suspects and exhibits would be handed over to the appropriate security agency of the government for further action.
ALSO, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in Port Harcourt said its operatives arrested an impostor and handed over two others to the police, after accusing them of facilitating a fake oil approval for a vessel, known as Mother Gabrini in Rivers State.
The Commander, Desmond Igbo, while parading the suspects, prior to handing them over to the Divisional Police Officer at Rumuolumeni, said the vessel was intercepted on November 8, over suspected illegal bunkering activities in the Bonny council area of the state.
According to Igbo, the crew presented a fake NNS Pathfinder oil approval. Upon discovery, the Forward Operating Base sprang into action and apprehended the persons involved.
He said the suspects were trailed and arrested at different locations, after a one-week intelligence-based operation.
Igbo also disclosed that preliminary investigation revealed that the imposter, identified as Williams Nweale, impersonated naval personnel and conducted illegal escort and security operations within the state
He said two camouflage uniforms and other military items were recovered from Nweale’s house.
In another development, the patrol team of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft arrested two foreigners for allegedly smuggling 5,000kg of an illicit substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.
The suspects, identified as Emmanuel Doedcher and Godswil John Olamide, both from Ghana, were handed over to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
Base Information Officer, Sub-Lieutenant Happiness Collins, yesterday, said the arrest took place in the early hours of December 7.
