The Nigerian Navy has confirmed the arrest of 17 people caught engaging in the illegal siphoning of crude oil in Ondo state.
Navy spokesperson, Commodore Adedotun Olukayode Ayo-Vaughan, in a statement said the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Igbokoda in Ondo on Wednesday at about 10:00pm detected the suspects.
Ayo-Vaughan added that the Naval officers arrested the 17 people in the early hours of Thursday at about 3.00am alongside a 77-meter-long Motor Tanker (MT) VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS.
“The vessel had 17 crew members onboard at the time of arrest and was caught engaging in illegal siphoning of crude oil from one of the well heads at EBESAN oil field about 7 nautical miles off the coast of Awoye riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State,” he stated.
“The apprehension of the vessel was based on credible intelligence received by the Base on the illegal activities of crude oil thieves at the location which informed the swift deployment of FOB IGBOKODA personnel to enforce the arrest of the vessel and her crew.
“Notably, as the anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of FOB IGBOKODA approached MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS, the 2 x boats attached to the vessel fled on sighting the naval personnel which confirmed the engagement of the vessel in illegality.”
Ayo-Vaughan said that accordingly, on arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the vessel was actively involved in siphoning crude oil from both sides of the well head.
Consequently, upon further search and interrogation, the Navy Spokesman said it was further discovered that the vessel had onboard 17 crew members of Nigerian nationality.
According to him, the vessel’s storage capacity is about 15,000 metric tonnes and as at the time of arrest, she had loaded about 500 Metric tonnes of crude oil.
He stressed that the arrest of MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS attests to the Nigerian Navy’s determination to curb crude oil theft and all manners of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
“All criminals and their cohorts are hereby warned that the Nigerian Navy will use all legitimate means at its disposal to track and arrest perpetrators of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime environment,” Ayo-Vaughan said.
“While individuals carrying out legitimate business are advised to go about their legitimate activities, the Nigerian Navy solicits the cooperation of patriotic and well-meaning members of the public to promptly report any form of criminalities especially in the coastal communities for necessary action”.
Ayo-Vaughan also said it is believed that Tantita Security Service (TSS) is involved in these illegalities because Awoye riverine area which is close to the place of arrest is covered by them.
He pointed out that it was upon the arrest of the vessel by the Nigerian Navy that TSS began to raise false alarm which is totally unfounded and indeed mischievous.
Nonetheless, he said that the Nigerian Navy remains resolute in the pursuit of her constitutional mandate for the protection of Nigeria’s Maritime Environment for national economic development and prosperity.
