Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta (NNS Delta) weekend handed over 10 suspected oil thieves to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (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.
Commander of NNS Delta, Commodore Abba Muhsin, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended on March 8, this year at WATSON jetty, Edjeba in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.
Commodore Muhsin, who was represented during the handing over of the suspects and other facilities by Base Operations Officer, Commander Patrick Onoja Ali, was nabbed following an intelligence report about the activities of the suspected oil thieves.
“On 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 target are those who hide under legal 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.
Commander NNS Delta 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, the Commander of Warri Anti-Vandal Patrol of the NSCDC 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.
