Navy Nabs 13 Suspected Oil Thieves In Bayelsa

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News From The State Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

FROM IGNATIUS OKPARA, Yenagoa – No fewer than Thirteen suspected oil thieves have been nabbed by the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigerian Navy, just as a vessel carrying stolen crude oil was intercepted by same security operatives.

According to the command, the vessel conveying 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 suspects were paraded on wednesday at the command’s Forward Operating Base, FOB, at Egwema, Brass, in the State.

The Command said, in order to allow for a thorough investigation, the suspects and the vessel have been handed over to the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe, said “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.

“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.

He said: “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 operatives revealed that MT REDEMPTION was owned by one Alhaji Omar Suleiman, who is the owner of Omar Oil Agency Ltd at Tema, Ghana.”

“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.” Ogiogbe disclosed.