ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Nigerian Navy (NN) in the effort to checkmate the activities of illegal crude oil thieves, pipeline vandals and other criminals operating in the Niger Delta has arrested some suspects responsible for some of the criminality in the region.
The Director of Information (DINFO), Commodore Christian Ezekobe, in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, said that the Nigerian Navy more than before stepped up its operations against all forms of threats in the maritime environment with more combat platforms injected into the security of critical economic assets and safer water ways.
To this end, Ezekobe said that three persons have been arrested by the operatives of the Nigerian Navy in connection with series of maritime crimes.
He listed the suspects to include Sani a.k.a Dogonyaro, Usman a.k.a Smally and Adamu Mani.
He said that the suspects were still undergoing investigation and would be handed over to the prosecuting authorities for further action, adding “rhe arrest of these suspects has proven helpful in the fight against the criminals”.
In a related development, the DINFO said that the operatives of Forward Operation Base (FOB) Badagry have arrested five citizens of Benin Republic in connection with economic crimes.
The suspects are Mr Philmen Agboku, Mr Penu Daniel, Mr Sule Soka, Mr Dosu Victor and Mr Sodope Olivie. They were arrested on 26 May 2016 along Tongeji-Port Novo axis at about 0500hrs in a wooden cotonou boat conveying about 900 jerricans.
“The jerricans contained product suspected to be stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). However, the suspects are being interrogated in order to get in-depth view of the gang and its sponsors,” he stated.
Ezekobe also disclosed that on May 26, 2016, NN operative continued to deter criminals from operating illegal crude oil refineries and pipeline vandals.
According to him, the patrol team deployed from NNS Delta destroyed a large illegal refinery with storage tanks containing stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) at Ayakurumo Community in Burutu LGA, in Delta State.
“Also the patrol team recovered three pumping machine and a cotonou boat carrying 80 drums of illegally refined AGO measuring 300 liters each,” he stated.