Oil Theft: Navy Hands Over Seized Barge, Two Trucks To EFCC in Delta

Sylvester Idowu in Warri 

The Nigerian Navy Ship Delta (NNS Delta), Warri has arrested and handed over a barge and two trucks, suspected to have been used for illegal oil bunkering, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for possible prosecution.

The barge tagged ‘Oghenekome’ and trucks with registration LSD 337 XA and ABJ 809 XN were arrested by the operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta on November 7th this year.

The Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Abba Muhsin, while handing over the items to the EFCC Tuesday, disclosed that his operatives in a gunboat intercepted the barge and trucks at Nigerian Inland Waterways Agency (NIWA) jetty in Warri.

Commodore Muhsin, who was represented by the Executive Officer, NNS Delta, Commander Ayi Ekpo Archibong, said the success of the exercise was among other series of actions in support of Operations Delta Sanity of the Nigerian Navy and Operations Delta Safe of Defence Headquarters.

“As part of the Navy’s coastguard function in nation building, we remain resolute in freeing our areas of operations from all forms of illegal oil theft and related criminalities,” he added.

Muhsin commended all government agencies, as well as the people of the state, for assisting NNS Delta with prompt intelligence leading to curbing the activities of oil thrives and other maritime criminality.

The seized items were handed over to the Assistant Superintendent of EFCC, Abdullahi Usman Nuhu, who led a team from the Benin Zonal Directorate, Benin city, Edo State.