The Nigerian Navy has apprehended 28 suspected oil thieves for allegedly stealing 527,810 litres of crude oil offshore in Ondo State.
The Navy said the suspects were arrested in the last five days at various locations in the Awoye riverine community of Ilaje Local Government Area in the state.
The Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base, Captain Wasuku Alushi, revealed this at the naval base in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje LGA, on Friday.
He said, “We intercepted a wooden boat, popularly known as ‘Cotonou Boat’ laden with approximately 12,000 litres of crude oil, around Illepte offshore at Awoye riverine community in Ilaje.
“Based on credible intelligence, our men of the anti-crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering team intercepted the large wooden boat and 11 men on the ground transshipping the suspected stolen crude into another boat as the first Cotonou boat was taking in water. Two other speedboats were also arrested alongside the wooden boat.”
According to the Commanding officer, last week, “a 15000 metric tons vessel, Mt Vinnalaris 1 Lagos, laden with about 515,870 litres of stolen crude oil and 17 suspects were arrested at seven nautical miles, off the coast of Awoye riverine community, while actively siphoning crude oil from a wellhead operated by CONOIL at Ebesan Oil Field.
He noted that the mandate of the base was to serve as a force multiplier for the Western Naval Command, in furtherance of its policing duties, especially to stamp out the danger of crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and other crimes in Igbokoda and its environs.
