By Gabriella Ogbu
The Nigerian Navy has detained two individuals suspected of crude oil theft along with a tanker truck and a Mazda vehicle loaded with 1,300 illegally refined products in Bayelsa State.
Commodore Sunday Lakan, the commander of Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH (NNS), disclosed this development during a press briefing at the NNS SOROH base.
Commodore Lakan emphasized that the NNS SOROH remains vigilant across all areas of Bayelsa under the authority of the Chief of Naval Staff and Operation Delta Safe. Acting on credible intelligence, the Navy received reports of stolen merchandise being transported from an illicit refining site.
“Our personnel were dispatched to the area, and upon arrival, they apprehended the truck behind me, suspected of carrying crude oil stolen from a wellhead,” he stated.
“The driver abandoned the truck and fled upon sighting our personnel, leaving the key behind. We subsequently transported the truck to the base for further assessment and appropriate action.”
“While on patrol, we also intercepted a Mazda 323 carrying bags suspected to contain illegally processed Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and kerosene, totaling 1,300 liters. Two suspects, a male and a female, were apprehended along with the vehicle and brought back to the base for thorough investigation,” Commodore Lakan added.
One of the suspects, Mr. Nelson Adeh, claimed to be a driver hired to transport the lady’s goods from the JK4 community to Mbiama before being apprehended by naval officers. Adeh appealed for leniency and promised to refrain from engaging in such illegal activities if granted bail.
