Navy intercepts 60,000 litres of stolen crude, arrests three

The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Ibaka has apprehended three individuals suspected of crude oil theft in Akwa Ibom State.

The Commanding Officer of the Base, Captain Uche Aneke, disclosed this while handing over the suspects and seized items to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Akwa Ibom Command on Thursday at Ibaka.

The suspects were found with a boat reportedly carrying about 60,000 litres of stolen crude oil valued at approximately ₦32 million.

The arrests occurred Tuesday morning following intelligence reports on illicit crude oil activities within the Navy’s jurisdiction. Alongside the crude oil, authorities seized outboard engines and a pumping machine from the suspects.

The wooden vessel, crewed by three Nigerian nationals, was equipped with 11 Geepee tanks filled with the suspected stolen oil, reportedly sourced from offshore Ibeno.

Aneke said the Navy’s commitment to curbing maritime crime under the direction of Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, urging potential offenders to abandon any plans for criminal activities in Nigeria’s waters.