Navy nabs 17 suspects siphoning 15 million liters crude oil
The Nigerian Navy has said that its Forward Operating Base, FOB , IGBOKODA ,Ondo State, arrested 17 suspects in the early hours of Thursday, December 7, 2023, aboard a 77-meter-long Motor Tanker (MT) VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS.
The vessel, with 17 crew members onboard at the time of arrest, according to the Navy, was caught engaging in the illegal siphoning of crude oil from one of the well heads at the EBESAN oil field, about 7 nautical miles off the coast of Awoye riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
In a statement signed by the Director, Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo- Vaughan, the Navy revealed that FOB IGBOKODA, detected the vessel on Wednesday December 6, 2023 at about 10:00pm before it was arrested hours later.
He said, “furthermore, it is believed that Tantita Security Service (TSS) is involved in these illegalities because Awoye riverine area which is close to the place of arrest is covered by TSS. “Again, it was upon the arrest of the vessel by the Nigerian Navy that TSS began to raise false alarm, totally unfounded and indeed mischievous.
The apprehension of the vessel according to him, was based on credible intelligence received by the Base, on illegal activities of crude oil thieves at the location, thereby prompting the deployment of FOB IGBOKODA personnel to enforce the arrest of the vessel and her crew.
He added that as the anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of FOB IGBOKODA approached MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS; the two boats attached to the vessel fled on sighting the naval personnel,” confirming the engagement of the vessel in illegality.
