Navy arrests 28 crude oil ‘thieves’ in Ondo, over 500,000 litres recovered

The Nigerian Navy says its officers have arrested 28 suspects for allegedly stealing 527,810 litres of crude oil offshore, in Awoye riverine community, Ondo state.

Wasuku Alushi, commanding officer who spoke to journalists on Tuesday at the Naval base in Igbokoda, said the suspects were caught by the forward operating base anti-crude oil theft (COT) patrol team on December 11, 2023.

Navy arrests 28 suspected crude oil thieves in Ondo, recovers over 500,000 litres

Alushi said the operatives intercepted a wooden boat, popularly known as “Cotonou boat”, laden with approximately 12,000 litres of crude oil around Illepte offshore at Awoye riverine community in Ilaje.

“Based on credible intelligence, our men of the anti-crude oil theft (COT) and illegal oil bunkering team intercepted a large wooden boat popularly known as Cotonou boat and 11 men on ground transhipping the suspected stolen crude into another boat as the first Cotonou boat was taking in water,” Alushi said. 

“Two other speedboats were also arrested alongside the wooden boat.

“A few days back, precisely on December 7, 2023, a 15000 Metric Ton Vessel, MT Vinnalaris 1 Lagos, laden with about 515,870 litres of stolen crude oil and 17 suspects were arrested seven nautical miles, off the coast of Awoye Riverine Community, while actively siphoning crude oil from a wellhead operated by CONOIL at Ebesan Oil Field.”

Alushi said the suspects and exhibits would be handed over to the appropriate agency of the government for further action.

He said the mandate of the base was to serve as a force multiplier for the western naval command, (WNC) in furtherance of its policing duties, particularly anti-COT and illegal bunkering. 

The naval boss reiterated the commitment of the base to stamp out the menace of crude oil theft and other crimes in Igbokoda and its environs.

Tantita Security Services (TSS) Limited, a private firm, owned by Government ‘Tompolo’ Ekpemupolo, and the navy had faced off over the 15000 metric ton vessel on December 7.

Tompolo’s firm said the vessel had naval personnel on board, who reportedly prevented security operatives from conducting a joint inspection, however, the navy said it arrested the vessel and the crew members on board for allegedly engaging in illegal siphoning of crude.