The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta has detained three suspects and has seized six boats containing stolen crude oil in Delta State.
Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Abdulazeez Zubairu, disclosed this while parading the suspects at the Warri Naval Base on Wednesday.
According to him, the suspects were caught by a special anti-oil theft team during a mission at Chevron Nigeria Limited, offshore in the Niger Delta.
He said that acting on reliable information, the navy launched a surprise operation early on Sunday.
While three suspects were captured at the scene, others managed to escape in fast boats, each carrying large drums filled with stolen crude oil.
Commodore Zubairu explained that the manner the suspects operated suggests they were part of a well-organized group.
“Our team acted quickly to stop them from stealing oil, which could have caused serious harm to the environment and the economy,” he said.
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The arrested suspects, all from Ondo State, are currently in custody while investigations continue.
He added that the navy is also working to find the escaped suspects and to dismantle the larger network behind the illegal activities.
Commodore Zubairu emphasized the importance of teamwork between the navy and oil industry stakeholders in combatting oil theft and other maritime crimes.
He highlighted that the arrest reflects the navy’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s waters and economic resources.
Additionally, he urged the public to report any suspicious activities to the navy or other security agencies to help in their fight against crime.
