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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Navy on Monday said its men have arrested about 20 suspected crude oil thieves aboard a vessel, MT TIS IV, on the Akassa River, in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The arrest was made on December 6, 2021. The vessel with its crew was arrested for its alleged indulgence in crude oil theft within the Akassa River.
Our correspondent reports that the vessel was found to be carrying about 700,000 litres which is about 603 metric tons or 4,402 barrels of illegally sourced crude oil, worth about $315,500 (N148,281,000), without the requisite approval for such cargo.
At a press briefing, commander of NNS Soroh, Commodore Patrick Effah, disclosed that the Navy identified the source of the stolen crude and was led to the spot where about four dug out pits, containing unspecified quantity of crude oil, were discovered, which was much more than what was found on the vessel.
He said: “The discovered storage pit has been reported to relevant oil and gas company for evacuation.
“The arrest is one of the numerous successes recorded by the Nigerian Navy in its ongoing ‘Operation Quite Waters’ aimed at dominating Nigeria’s maritime environment towards creating deterrence to ensure secure economic activities to strive.
“Suffice to state that in line with the chief of the Naval Staff’s Strategic Directives 2021-05, which directed Naval bases to curb all forms of maritime crimes within the nation’s waters.
“NNS SOROH has been relentless in identifying and arresting perpetrators of crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other maritime crimes.
“It is noteworthy that the Nigerian Navy remains unwavering in its drive to rid Nigeria’s maritime environment of all forms of criminalities.
“This drive can be justified by the recently commissioned vessels by the President and commander in chief of the Armed Forces.
“As I speak, some of the newly commissioned naval vessels and other vessels are at sea patrolling the nation’s exclusive economic zone,” Effah said.
The commander, said the chief of the Naval Staff is currently at sea for Exercise ‘Quite Waters.’
He added that the arrest of MT TIS IV is one of a series of arrests recently made by the Nigerian Navy.
Effah further seized the opportunity “to warn miscreants and intending economic saboteurs to desist from acts of criminality, as they have no hiding place.
“Note that the Maritime Domain Awareness facilities of the Nigerian Navy is well equipped to detect and flag vessels engaged in all forms of maritime crimes within Nigerian waters and beyond.
“While warning criminals, I want to also thank other security agencies and stakeholders more especially the chief of Defence Staff through Operation Delta Safe and the chief of the Naval Staff for the support given to the base to enhance her operations.
“On a final note, let me reiterate that the Nigerian Navy remains unwavering in its drive to curb all forms of criminalities within Nigeria’s maritime environment,” he stated.
