Oil Theft: Navy Foils Theft Of N1.6b Products By Vandals, Others

The Western Naval Command (WNC) has said it prevented theft of petroleum products valued at over N1.6b by suspected vandals, recovered about N630 million worth of petroleum products and empty jerricans valued at N120m at Atlas Cove and Tarkwa Bay.

Immediate past Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Oladele Daji said this at a valedictory parade held in his honour at the command’s headquarters in Apapa.

Daji, who has been appointed Commandant, National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, said the products were recovered by operatives of the command within his two years as FOC.

According to him, most of them were suspected to have been stolen from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) facilities and were being ferried outside the shores of the country when naval operatives of the command intercepted them within their area of responsibilities (AOR).

He said the command also arrested 10 culprits who were currently on trial at Federal High Courts in Lagos.

Daji said the command foiled two of the three attacks on ships recorded under his watch, adding that 33 ships were also arrested for various maritime crimes including illegal bunkering, oil theft, gun-running, smuggling and illegal fishing.