Thirteen suspected oil thieves have been apprehended by the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigerian Navy while a vessel carrying stolen crude oil also was intercepted by the Command.
The vessel carrying the stolen crude oil identified as MT REDEMPTION was intercepted at Middleton and Peddington area of Brass, off the Atlantic Ocean in Bayelsa State.
The suspected oil vandals were on Wednesday paraded at the command’s Forward Operating Base, FOB, at Egwema, Brass, Bayelsa State.
According to the Command, in order for thorough investigation to be carried out, the suspects and the vessel have been handed over to the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
While reacting to the development, the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe, disclosed that, “When the patrol team searched the vessel, it was discovered that some tanks including drums kept on the main deck were laden with products suspected to be crude oil approximately 100,000 litres.
Ogoigbe said, “The captain of the vessel claimed that the contents of the tanks and drums were bitumen but were confirmed to be crude oil after the product was taken to Nigeria Agip Oil Company for laboratory test.
“The crew of MT REDEMPTION could neither disclose the source of the product nor present any valid documents authorising the vessel to lift crude oil.
“Preliminary investigation by his operatives revealed that MT REDEMPTION was owned by one Alhaji Omar Suleiman, who is the owner of Omar Oil Agency Ltd at Tema, Ghana, while the agents of the company in Nigeria are Mr. Niyi Akimosho and Mr. Addisson a Ghanaian who allegedly assist the owner in recruiting crew members.”
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