Nigerian Navy has drawn public attention to a sponsored campaign of calumny against its operatives in the fight against crude oil theft and vowed to arrest those behind it.
The director Information Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan said the sponsored publications are a result of the Nigerian Navy‘s renewed vigour in the fight against crude oil theft.
He said the Nigerian Navy‘s effort has affected the criminals’ business leading to an increase in oil production in the last six months.
Ayo-Vaughan said the Nigerian Navy operations against crude oil theft in 2023 led to the arrest of 23 ships, over 233 suspects, 690 wooden boats with stolen crude oil and products while over 703 illegal refining sites were destroyed.
He added that the navy confiscated tens of barges, 82 vehicles and tanker trucks and crude oil and petroleum products amounting to over N105 billion.
The director said the arrested suspects have been handed over to appropriate prosecuting agencies, adding that the fight against crude oil theft is ongoing with renewed vigour in 2024.
It is not surprising therefore that these ignorant publications aimed at distracting the Navy are obviously sponsored by the soon-to-be-arrested criminals involved in oil theft who are feeling the impact of the Nigerian Navy‘s renewed fight towards eradicating the menace of oil theft.
The Navy‘s effort has been visible leading to an increase in oil production in the last 6 months as rightly reported by relevant authorities and the media,“ he said.
He reiterated that the Navy under the leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla will not be deterred by the malicious and misguided propaganda in the media.
The sponsored campaigns of calumny will not deter the Nigerian Navy from carrying out her constitutional enshrined roles in the interest of the national economy,“ he added.
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