Nigeria Navy arrests three Cameroonians, Nigerian for oil theft

THE Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has apprehended three Cameroonians and a Nigerian with 66 drums of premium motor spirit, each containing 250 litres of the product.

The suspects are Kokah Ekema, 38; Money Francis, 27; Nako Otto, 25, and a Nigerian, Who-Knows Nya, 30.

The Commanding Officer of the base, Captain Siyanbade Adedokun, who paraded the suspects before journalists in Ibaka on Tuesday, said one Cotonou wooden boat equipped with two 40 horsepower outboard engines had  been seized from the suspects.

Adedokun stated that the suspects would be handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“We have arrested three Cameroonians and one Nigerian with 66 drums of 250 litres of the product suspected to be premium motor spirit. All the suspects will be handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“The more we patrol, the more we make the maritime environment safe for legitimate business to thrive. We try to patrol our waterways very close to international water.

“It is a very strategic place to police so that we won’t have people from neighbouring countries coming to perpetrate illegality in the country,” he said.

Adedokun warned pipeline vandals and sea pirates, among others, to desist from their acts or face dire consequences.

The state Commandant of the NSCDC, Obiagulu Obiageli, who received the suspects from the navy, praised the commanding officer for working hard to protect the territorial integrity of the country.

She noted that the trend would facilitate business activities within the maritime environment of the country.

Obiageli, who was represented by the Chief Inspector of the corps, Victor Uweh, assured the navy that the NSCDC would carry out its statutory mandate by investigating the suspects.

She noted that if the suspects were found culpable, they would face the wrath of the law.