In a significant crackdown on illegal oil activities, the Nigerian Navy has apprehended ten individuals suspected of engaging in oil bunkering in Akwa Ibom State.
Commodore Madumom Ide, the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship Jubilee, announced this development to reporters on Friday, unveiling the operation’s details at Ibaka in Mbo LGA of the state.
The operation, carried out on December 28, 2023, in Ikot Abasi LGA, resulted in the seizure of a vessel identified as ‘Motor Tanker Queen Hansal,’ allegedly containing a substantial quantity of crude oil.
“Ten suspects were apprehended – comprising one captain and nine crew members – all of Nigerian nationality,” Commodore Ide stated. He further elucidated that the vessel possessed a capacity of 1,022 tonnes, equivalent to over 7,000 barrels of oil, valued at approximately over N800 million.
Detailing the maritime interception, Ide disclosed that NNS Orji executed the initial capture, transferring custody of the vessel to NNS Jubilee. Subsequently, the vessel was securely harbored at the Forward Operation Base in Ibaka.
Ide underscored the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment to purging the maritime domain of criminal elements and illicit activities, issuing a stern warning to those engaged in economic sabotage to cease their operations immediately.
“The Nigerian Navy has unequivocally resolved to thwart criminals from pillaging our collective heritage,” Ide asserted.
He affirmed that the apprehended suspects, along with the confiscated crude oil and the vessel, would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
This latest operation underscores the ongoing efforts of Nigerian law enforcement agencies to combat illegal oil activities, safeguarding the nation’s economic interests and preserving its natural resources.
It serves as a stark warning to those involved in such illicit endeavors, signaling the authorities’ determination to uphold the rule of law and protect the nation’s maritime integrity.
