BY SIMON UTEBOR
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy, Central Naval Command, have apprehended seven suspects in connection with stolen automated gas oil (diesel) in Bayelsa State.
The operatives also arrested their vessel, MV Mercy, loaded with 180,000 litres of the stolen diesel, which street value is put in the region of N28m.
The suspects were said to have been arrested last Saturday in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
Commanding Officer, Naval Base, Yenagoa, Capt. Salisu Jibril, said on Monday that the seven-man crew, all Nigerians, were arrested during a routine patrol.
Jibril said, “Last Saturday, our patrol gunboat on routine patrol arrested a wooden boat MV MERCY along with seven crew members.
“At the time of arrest, the vessel was laden with180,000 litres of substance suspected to be AGO around Furupa in Southern Ijaw LGA.”
The commanding officer said with the arrest, the Navy was making statement that there is no room for illegal oil bunkering and other related theft.
“Those engaged in the nefarious activities should know that when caught, the long arm of the law will definitely catch up with them,” he said.
Later, Jibril paraded the seven suspects before handing them over to the officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
He said the suspects and the arrested vessel were handed over to the corps for further prosecution and action.
Jibril handed the suspects to the Deputy Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Godwin Miebi, representative of the state Commandant, Mr. Desmond Agu.
In his remarks, Miebi said the corps would commence prosecution of the suspects in no distant time.
Via: http://www.punchng.com
