In a bid to eradicate oil theft in the Nigerian waterways, operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Victory set a wooden boat conveying illegal Premium Motor Spirits (PMS) ablaze.
The officers also arrested the six crew members that were onboard the boat plying the Calabar Waterways late Friday.
According to the Base Operation Officer of NNS Victory, LT CDR Isaac Ayogu, the officers nabbed the suspects on their way to the Agbani oil terminal.
LT CDR Ayogu disclosed that the huge wooden boat was laden with about 273 drums of PMS and had six crew members.
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He reiterated the Navy’s commitment to rid all illegalities happening in the maritime environment.
The Navy boss added that the six suspects have been handed over to men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) for further investigation.
Speaking more on the exercise, Ayogu said, “The exercise we conducted this evening is in accordance with the standard procedure of the Nigerian Navy as directed by Chief of Defense Staff that any item arrested that is associated with Crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering should be destroyed and suspects if any handed over to appropriate prosecuting agency.
“On the 29th of October 2022, we intercepted a wooden boat carrying six suspects and about 273 drums of PMS along the Agbani oil terminal, Calabar general area. The six suspects have been handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency which happens to be NSCDC.”
Journalists in the company of operatives of NNS Victory were taken onshore to witness the setting ablaze of the confiscated wooden boat.