Seven Oil Thieves Nabbed With Three Barges In Bayelsa

The Nigerian Navy has impounded three barges conveying petroleum products suspected to be crude oil and refined Automative Gas Oil and arrested seven persons at Tunu Community Creek in the Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Commander, NNS SOROH, Nanmar Lakan, disclosed at the weekend that his command received an intelligent report on the activities of oil thieves going on in the area.

Lakan said the seven suspects, who were on board the barges at the time of arrest, claimed to be security men working under the leadership of Tunu, but were being kept in custody pending the conclusion of investigations.

He stated that Shell Petroleum Development Company, which operates in the area, had complained of the loss of 25 per cent daily production to oil thieves.

Lakan said on receiving the intelligence his men carried out both air and water surveillance in the area and their efforts paid off with the arrest of the suspected oil thieves.

According to him, two of the barges each has capacity of 637,000 litres while the third could contain 700,000 litres.

Lakan added that investigation was ongoing to ascertain the owners of the barges and where the products were meant to be discharged.

He warned those who indulge in such illegal activities of oil theft to desist from the illegal business as the Nigerian Navy would not allow them to find peace.

Source: Punch