Three suspects and a two twin tank truck have been arrested by the Nigerian Navy as part of its on-going operations against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
The Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Soroh (NNS), Commodore SD Atakpa has handed over the three suspects and the truck to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bayelsa.
Commodore Atakpa represented by Cdr. Ola Babatunde, Acting Base Information Officer NNS Soroh disclosed that the DAF model under bellied twin tank truck registration number Yobe T-0120-YB was laden with 24,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.
During the handing over ceremony at the Central Naval Command, Yenagoa Bayelsa State on Wednesday he said items recovered from the suspects are five mobile phones, as well as cash amount of #908,700 only, which were confiscated and taken to the base.
According to him the suspects were arrested by the patrol team while conducting anti-crude oil theft patrols along Patani Highway after enroute Warri in Delta State.
“The occupants of the truck arrested are; Mr Umar Muhammed and Mr Kabiru Muhammed were further placed under detention and the truck impounded in premises for further interrogation.
“In another development, our team in the ongoing effort to clamp down on all forms of anti-crude oil theft and bunkering, deployed at about 1907 of April 2022 based on actionable intelligence.
“The base patrol team also intercepted and arrested one suspect, namely Mr Yusuf Usman in another DAF model under-bellied twin tank truck with registration number Lagos KRD-449-XY laden with 25,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.
“The truck was intercepted along NNPC junction by Yenagoa Toll Gate. Following these developments three suspects are hereby handed over to NSCDC Bayelsa State Command for further investigation and possible prosecution for crime of economic sabotage,” he said.
