Dailyreport
Three accused oil thieves were apprehended by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, when they were in the state with a boat loaded with crude oil valued at N32 million.
This was revealed by Capt. Uche Aneke, the base’s commanding officer, on Thursday in Ibaka when he turned over the suspects and confiscated goods to the Akwa Ibom Command of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
According to Aneke, an intelligence tip regarding the actions of suspected criminals involved in crude oil theft within the Navy’s operational area led to the suspects’ arrest on Tuesday at approximately 09:05 a.m.
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With the required assistance from FOB Ibaka, the Tantita team stopped and detained the alleged criminals using a wooden boat that was found to be loaded with roughly 60,000 litres of what appeared to be stolen crude oil.
The suspects were also found in possession of a pumping mechanism and outboard engines.
Notably, there were three crew members on the wooden boat—all Nigerians—at the time of the arrest.
According to Aneke, “it was found that the vessel had eleven Geepee tanks that were loaded with approximately 60,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil; the product was overloaded from offshore Ibeno in Akwa Ibom.”
He issued a warning to anyone or any organisation preparing to commit any kind of crime in Nigerian waterways or smuggle illicit goods into or out of the country’s waters to stop right away.
Under the direction of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff, Aneke reiterated the Navy’s dedication to fighting marine crimes in the state.
According to him, the Eastern Naval Command Area of Responsibility’s FOB Ibaka Area would continue to use cutting-edge intelligence and surveillance tools to identify criminal elements.
Mr. Adetona Taiwo of the Extractive Industry Fraud Section of the Uyo Zonal Directorate said the commission will look into the matter further and perhaps bring charges against the suspects after receiving the confiscated goods and suspects.
