Nigerian Navy arrests 10 for stealing 360,000 litres of diesel

The Nigerian Navy has arrested a Cameroonian and nine Nigerians for allegedly stealing 360,000 litres of Automative Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel in the Niger Delta.

Troops from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO of the Central Naval Command (CNC) in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, were said to have apprehended the suspected oil thieves offshore Brass River, in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

It was learnt that a patrol team of the Navy intercepted a vessel, Mt Pauline, on Brass River on Friday.
The operatives were said to have searched the vessel and discovered 360,000 litres of AGO.

Ten suspects were arrested on board the ship, which the Navy impounded.

In a statement yesterday, the CNC said the ship lacked valid documents authorising it to carry the product.

The statement by the command’s Operation Officer, Commodore Emmanuel Enemor, said the captain of the ship was unable to tender the bunkering permit of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA).
He said the ship lacked other documents, such as the certificate of registration with the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, and a permit from the Naval headquarters.

The statement said: “On September 6, at 8am, a Naval patrol team from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO intercepted and arrested MT Pauline offshore Brass Rivers in the Brass Local Government area of Bayelsa State.

“At the time of arrest, the vessel was loaded with over 360,000 litters of automotive gasoline (AGO). The ship was arrested with 10 crew members comprising nine Nigerians and a Cameroonian.

“Besides, the captain was unable to document. Currently, FOB has commenced investigation into the source of the suspected stolen petroleum product on board of the vessel.

“The arrest and many others recorded in the past is a clear display of the determination of the naval commands to completely eradicate oil theft, illegal bunkering and other illegalities in the maritime environment.

“This further demonstrates the zero tolerance for the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Dele Ezeoba against oil theft and related criminalities in the maritime domain.”
 

The Nation