Navy says allegation of aiding oil theft speculative, false

The Nigeria Navy (NN) has dispelled rumours that its officers and ratings aid and abet crude oil theft and invasion of herders.

In a statement by naval image-maker, Suleman Dahun, the navy insisted that it was highly committed to zero tolerance to economic sabotage and indiscipline among officers and rank-and-file in their bid to secure Nigeria’s waters.

According to him, their attention was drawn to a report in some newspapers captioned ‘How Nigerian Navy Aids Crude Oil Theft, Herders’ Invasion’, he said not only is the report largely speculative, lacking in facts and substance and one-sided, there was an attempt to substantiate and legitimize the allegations by quoting an unnamed official of one Domestic Refineries Owners Association of Nigeria, who made grave allegations of complicity against the Nigerian Navy.

He asked the purported organization to identify the NN personnel who receive bribes. “In this respect, we wish to reiterate our position on zero tolerance for economic sabotage, isolated cases of personnel complicity in illegal acts as well as our resolve to fight all forms of criminal activities in the nation’s maritime domain.

They urged the media to verify information sourced from other stakeholders in the maritime industry with them especially those that pertain to maritime security.