The Nigerian Navy has arrested three people in connection with the alleged falsification of its approval for the shipment of 150,000 gallons of suspected contaminated diesel.
Commodore Desmond Igbo, Commander, Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, announced this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the suspects’ surrender to the Nigeria Police Force.
He stated that the three suspects provided a forged naval oil approval to a vessel, the MV Mother Gabrini, with one of the suspects posing as a navy officer.
“On Nov. 8, troops attached to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny arrested MV Mother Gabrini for suspected illegal bunkering activities.
“During preliminary investigation, the crew presented a fake NNS Pathfinder oil approval, which necessitated the base to spring into action to apprehend the persons involved in the forging of our approval.
“Three suspects (who forged the oil approval) were trailed and arrested at different locations after a one-week sustained intelligence-led operation,” he said.
According to Igbo, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, has urged troops to put an end to all sorts of illegal activity in the nation’s marine environment.
He said findings indicated that the thieves were increasingly using forged approvals to carry petroleum products unnoticed on the waterways.
According to the naval commander, troops discovered two camouflages and other military uniforms, as well as incriminating items, in Nweale’s flat.
He added that the navy had begun taking action to apprehend all oil thieves and illegal bunkerers within the state, urging them to stop their illicit actions.
