The Nigerian Navy says its Forward Operating Base (FOB), IGBOKODA, in Ondo, in the early hours of Thursday, apprehended a 77-meter-long motor tanker VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS involved in crude oil theft.

The navy disclosed this in a statement by the director of naval information, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan.

The navy fingered Tantita Security Service in “these illegalities because Awoye riverine area, which is close to the place of arrest, is covered by TSS.”

“Again, it was upon the arrest of the vessel by the Nigerian Navy that TSS began to raise false alarm, totally unfounded and indeed mischievous,” added the statement. “Nonetheless, the Nigerian Navy remains resolute in the pursuit of her constitutional mandate for the protection of Nigeria’s maritime environment for national economic development and prosperity.”

The vessel, which had 17 crew members onboard at the time of arrest, was caught engaging in illegal siphoning of crude oil from one of the well heads at EBESAN oil field about seven nautical miles off the coast of Awoye riverine community in Ilaje LGA, said the navy.

The arrest of the vessel followed credible intelligence received by the Base on the illegal activities of crude oil thieves at the location, which informed the swift deployment of FOB IGBOKODA personnel to nab the vessel and her crew.

The navy said, “Notably, as the anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of FOB IGBOKODA approached MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS, the 2 x boats attached to the vessel fled on sighting the naval personnel, which confirmed the engagement of the vessel in illegality.

“Accordingly, on arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the vessel was actively involved in siphoning crude oil from both sides of the wellhead. Consequently, upon further search and interrogation, it was further discovered that the vessel had onboard 17 crew members of Nigerian nationality.”

It explained that the vessel had a storage capacity of about 15,000 metric tonnes, adding that it loaded about 500 metric tonnes of crude oil as at the time of arrest.

According to the statement, the arrest of MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS attests to the Nigerian Navy’s determination to curb crude oil theft and all manners of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

The navy warned that it would use all legitimate means to track and arrest perpetrators of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime environment. It solicited the public’s cooperation to promptly report crimes to the navy, especially in the coastal communities, for necessary action.

(NAN)