By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, (FOB) Igbokoda, in Ondo State, detected and arrested a 77-meter-long Motor Tanker (MT) VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS.
Naval Spokesperson, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, in a statement, said, the vessel had 17 crew members onboard at the time of arrest and was caught engaging in illegal siphoning of crude oil from one of the well heads at EBESAN oil field about 7 nautical miles off the coast of Awoye riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
This is because the Service accused Tantita Security Service (TSS, of involvement in these illegalities because the Awoye riverine area which is close to the place of arrest is covered by TSS.
He noted that the apprehension of the vessel was based on credible intelligence received by the Base on the illegal activities of crude oil thieves at
the location which informed the swift deployment of FOB IGBOKODA personnel to enforce the arrest of the vessel and her crew.
The Spokesperson explained that as the anti-crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of FOB IGBOKODA approached MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS, the two boats attached to the vessel fled on sighting the naval personnel which confirmed the engagement of the vessel in illegality.
“Accordingly, on arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the vessel was actively involved in siphoning
crude oil from both sides of the wellhead. Consequently, upon further search and interrogation, it was further discovered that the vessel had onboard 17 crew members of Nigerian nationality. The vessel’s storage capacity is about 15,000 metric tonnes and as at the time of arrest she had loaded about 500 Metric tonnes of crude oil,” the statement said.
Commodore Ayo-Vaughan noted that the arrest of MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS attests to the Nigerian Navy’s determination to curb crude oil theft and all manners of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
He warned all criminals and their cohorts, that the Nigerian Navy will
use all legitimate means at its disposal to track and arrest perpetrators of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime environment.
Noting that individuals carrying out legitimate business are advised to go about their legitimate activities, the Naval Spokesperson, said that the Navy solicits the cooperation of patriotic and well-meaning members of the public to promptly report any form of criminalities, especially in the coastal communities to the Nigerian Navy for prompt and necessary action.
Commodore Ayo-Vaughan, also took a swipe at Tantita Security Service (TSS), saying that it is believed that TSS is involved in these illegalities because the Awoye riverine area which is close to the place of arrest is covered by
TSS.
He explained that it was upon the arrest of the vessel by the Nigerian Navy that TSS began to raise false alarms, totally unfounded and indeed mischievous.
Nonetheless, the Nigerian Navy, concluded that it remains resolute in the pursuit of its constitutional mandate for the protection of Nigeria’s Maritime Environment for national economic development and prosperity.
