Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta (NNS Delta) yesterday handed over 10 suspected oil thieves to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC) for further investigation and prosecution.
Also handed over to the NSCDC were two tugboats, two badges and nine storage facilities with an unspecified quantity of crude oil used in perpetrating their illegal activities.
Commander of NNS Delta, Commodore Abba Muhsin, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended on March 8, at WATSON Jetty, Edjeba, in Warri South Local Government area of Delta State.
Commodore Muhsin, who was represented during the handing over of the suspects and other facilities by Base Operations Officer, Commander Patrick Onoja Ali, said the oil thieves were nabbed following an intelligence report about the activities.
“In March 8, this year, NNS Delta got intelligence on some suspected illegal oil bunkering operations happening at WATSON Jetty, Edjeba, in Warri. So our men were deployed to this location. We conducted raids from different locations and at the end, 10 suspects, two tug boats, two badges and nine storage facilities were apprehended,” he said.
Muhsin warned perpetrators of illegal oil bunkering to steer clear of NNS Delta’s area of operations vowing they would be tracked down and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“Our targets are those who hide under illegal means to perpetrate oil-related illegalities and those who outrightly perpetrate such illegalities. If you do not change, we will unbundle and flush you out of Delta.
“This is one of the series of actions, in support of Operations Delta Sanity of the Nigerian Navy and Operations Delta Safe of Defence Headquarters as part of the Navy’s Coast Guard functions towards nation building,” he said.
He assured that his command will remain resolute to free its areas of operations from all forms of illegal oil theft and other activities and commended all government agencies that support its operations.
Receiving the suspects, Commander, Warri Anti-Vandal Patrol of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Murtala, said the Corps will carry out further investigations and possible prosecution of the suspects.
“On behalf of the Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi through the State Commandant, Suleiman Agboola Jimoh, I have taken over the suspects and the facilities,” he said.
