Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH (NNS) on Friday, arrested two persons and seized wooden boat laden with 12,000 litres of Automated Gas Oil (AGO), in Okarki water front, in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Commander, Commodore Nanmar Lakan, made the disclosure while parading the suspects at Okarki water front.
According to him, in line with the mandate of Operation Delta Sanity, which includes anti-crude oil theft, anti-pipeline vandalism, anti-illegal refining sites, amongst others, “still working with intelligence gathering from the good citizens of this country, we received credible information that some people want to move illegally refined AGO, popularly known as diesel from the Okarki river.
“We dispatched our men here and they made this arrest here with two suspects. The quantity here is estimated 12,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.”
He urged those involved in such illegality to desist, look for a better way of livelihood and stop the illegality because what they are doing is harmful to the entire society and the nation at large.
According to him, the nation is losing a lot economically, “so I advise them to stop. If not, we are determined to rid off the entire area of this illegal business they are engaging themselves in”.
He appealed to the members of the public and lawful citizens, to work with the security agencies particularly the NNS SOROH to give them relevant information to carry out their task.
The Commander said that the suspects and the products will be handed over to the appropriate security agency, because their is a standing procedure of handling such items.
He expressed the commitment of the Navy to rid the waterways of criminals, and urged those involved in illegal oil bunkering to desist or face the wrath of the law.
Lekan urged members of the public to always support the navy with credible information that would enable it to tackle crude oil theft
Speaking to newsmen, one of the suspects, Mr Clement Fimeya, said that he was doing it to feed his four children because of lack of job opportunity.
He pleaded for forgiveness, and promised to never indulge in such illegality if granted pardon by the appropriate security agency.
