Navy Arrests Three Northerners, Others for Oil Theft, Vandalism

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Nigerian Navy (NN), in its renewed effort to checkmate the activities of crude oil thieves, pipeline vandals and other criminals operating in the Niger Delta, has arrested some suspects in the region.

The Director of Information of the navy (DINFO), Commodore Christian Ezekobe, in a statement yesterday, said the navy, more than before, stepped up its operations against all forms of threats in the maritime environment with more combat platforms injected into securing the critical economic assets and safer water ways.

Ezekobe therefore stated that three persons have been arrested by the Nigerian navy in connection with series of maritime crimes.

He listed the suspects as Sani aka Dogonyaro, Usman aka Smally and Adamu Mani.

Ezekobe said the suspects were still undergoing investigation and would be handed over to the prosecuting authorities for further action, adding that: “The arrest of these suspects has proven helpful in the fight against the criminals in the region.”

In a related development, the DINFO said the operatives of Forward Operation Base (FOB) at Badagry have arrested five citizens of Benin Republic in connection with economic crimes.

“The suspects are Mr. Philmen Agboku, Mr. Penu Daniel, Mr. Sule Soka, Mr. Dosu Victor and Mr. Sodope Olivie. They were arrested on May 26 along Tongeji-Port Novo axis at about 0500hrs in a wooden Cotonou boat conveying about 900 gallons containing suspected to be fuel. However, the suspects are being interrogated in order to get an in-depth view of the gang and its sponsors,” he stated.

Ezekobe also disclosed that on May 26, navy operatives have continued to deter criminals from operating illegal crude oil refineries and pipeline vandals.

According to him, the Patrol team deployed from NNS Delta destroyed a large illegal refinery with storage tanks containing stolen crude oil and illegally refined diesel at Ayakurumo Community in Burutu Local Government Area in Delta State.