The Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH (NNS) said it has 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.
NNS Commander, Commodore Nanmar Lakan disclosed this while parading the suspects at Okarki Water Front on Friday.
Commander Lakan said the arrest was in line with the mandate of Operation Delta Sanity which include 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 said.
Lakan urged those involved in illegality to desist from such, look for better means of livelihood and stop the illegality while noting that what they are doing is harmful to the entire society and the nation at large.
He added that the nation is losing a lot economically to the activities, “so I advice them to stop, if not, we are determined to rid 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 NNS SOROH to give relevant information necessary for tackling crude oil theft.
The Commander further said that the suspects and the products will be handed over to the appropriate security agency.
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.
One of the suspects, Mr Clement Fimeya, who spoke with newsmen said he was doing the illegal business to feed his four children due to lack of job opportunity.
He pleaded for forgiveness, and promised never to indulge in such illegality if pardoned.
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