The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS)

  • Navy uncovers over N11m worth of PMS on Lagos Island

    Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT have uncovered 3,181 25 litre kegs laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) suspected to have been vandalised from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) pipelines at Akaraba Island, Lagos Island

    The kegs, which were discovered during a raid of the Island by naval operatives on July 4, were said to have been concealed in makeshift structures built about 200 metres away from Inegbe Resort.

    Leading reporters to the Island where the kegs were handed over to the NNPC, Commander NNS BEECROFT Commodore Ibrahim Shettima said the products were valued at about N11.5 million.

    He said: “On Thursday, July 4, at about 4pm, patrol team deployed in Atlas Cove Island conducted raids at Akaraba area based on available intelligence. The team discovered   3,181 of 25 litres jerry cans with products suspected to be PMS valued at about N11,500,000.

    “It was further discovered that the products were sourced from several vandalised points on the NNPC pipeline on the Atlas Cove Island. The discovery of such large quantity of PMS is as a result of the navy’s aggressive patrols which have denied them the freedom of action.

    “The Nigerian Navy under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas is determined to rid our waterways of all forms of criminality. The NNS BEECROFT is therefore committed to assisting NNPC and other agencies of government in dealing with the issue of pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.

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    “The Nigerian Navy uses this medium to warn pipeline vandals/thieves and other criminal elements, particularly in our maritime environment to desist from nefarious activities and pursue lawful means of livelihood. Otherwise, they will surely be brought to justice.

    “I advise well-meaning citizens to dissociate from illegality and give useful information to the Nigerian Navy or other security agencies on all forms of criminalities going on in their areas. The Nigerian Navy is ever focused and would continue to hunt these criminal elements and enemies of the nation.”

    Commodore Shettima said the Navy would await the evacuation of the products by NNPC within a time frame before destroying illegal structures in the Island.

    He said the kegs would have been destroyed and set ablaze if not that the  area had combustible materials.

    “We have about 1,000 jerry cans of the PMS here in Takwa Bay evacuated from Akaraba, while the ones you saw earlier are 2,181. The total is 3,181. At first, our men thought it was something they could evacuate but you have seen the difficulty of the terrain and the quantity of kegs.

    “We have about nine vehicles here recovered from criminals. The last time we came here, there were about four vehicles now the number has increased.

    “These are the kinds of challenges we face here but we are not relenting in our efforts to do away with this act of criminality.

    “It is expected that when we hand over, the NNPC will evacuate all the products to their location because the navy has to clear the whole area of illegal structures. They will have to give me a specific date that they would have completely evacuated the products,” he said.

    The Nation observed that the makeshift structures were located at places where boats or canoes could anchor and load with ease for  transportation. It was also observed that the locations of the structures were the same as those destroyed in 2015 and 2016 by the Nigerian Navy during operations to dislodge pipeline vandals and militants in the area.

    At the handing over was Commandant NSCDC Commandant Tajudeen Balogun, representatives of NNPC pipeline maintenance contractor, OilServe Limited and private security guards working for the contractor Pentagon.

    There was, however, mild drama on the island as officials of the NNPC, who were to receive the recovered kegs, initially refused to turn up. But with the Navy’s insistence to handover the products in line with the Harmonised Standard Operating Procedure (HSOP), the Manager Atlas Cove Terminal of the NNPC Rafiu Malik eventually came out and signed for them.

  • Navy arrest 19 suspects, recovers five boats, 168 drums of AGO

    Operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) on Wednesday arrested 19 suspected oil thieves including two women and recovered five boats laden with 168 drums of 300 litre each of AGO.

    The arrests were made by a team comprising operatives from Naval Headquarters and Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder around Bakana creeks, a notorious hideout for the syndicate engaged in illegal refining of petroleum products.

    The team which was conducting select journalists on educational tour of Niger Delta creeks to showcase efforts of the NN in combating the menace intercepted the boats at different locations along the Bakana river which empties into the Atlantic ocean.

    Among the suspects were Okechuwkwu Echelonu, Gift Emmanuel, Justina Patani, Moses Elijah, Emmanuel Manase, Joshua Ahi, Lucky Sam and Iliyasu Ibrahim.

    Leading a convoy of five boats to the creek for on-the-spot assessment of an illegal refinery camp destroyed by the navy last December, the Director Naval Information (DINFO) Commodore Suleiman Dahun and Base Operation Officer (BOO) Commander Muritala Rogo patrolled adjoining channels of the river where some of the boats were recovered.

    The Nation reports that upon sighting the naval gunboats, three of the suspects in two different boats dived into the river unclad, abandoning their boats and cargo.

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    Twelve of the suspects comprising 10 men and two women on three boats claimed they were working for one Madam who’s based in Port Harcourt.

    Prior to the tour to the creek, Commander Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER  Commodore Sam Bora who addressed journalists by the jetty said the security situation in the base’s area of operation (AOO) could best be assessed as unpredictable, attributing same to upsurge in agitations from various militant groups and conducts of some desperate politicians.

    “These groups in their desperation to acquire power at all cost use dubious means including employment of thugs to threaten the peaceful political climate as well as safety and security of lives and properties in the state. The fall out of this reprehensible conduct is the recent cases of reported killings and kidnappings perpetrated by cult groups and other criminals in the state.

    “Notwithstanding, the base has restrategies and emplaced measures that would ensure the safety and security of lawful activities within its AOO…

    “Operations against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other maritime criminalities in the last six months have witnessed the deployment of an average of 10 gunboats and 18 private maritime logistics support company vessels for sustained patrols monthly.

    “This led to the arrest of eight vessels, 18 barges, 42 wooden boats and 38 suspects within the period under review. Similarly, 70 illegal refinery sites with several storage tanks and dugout pits laden with over 4,300mt of suspected stolen crude oil as well as over 2,191mt of illegally refined AGO were destroyed.

    “Additionally, 21 fibre boats, three trucks and tankers, 18 outboard engines, 16 generators, 12 welding machines and 36 pumping machines were recovered within the same period.”

    One of the suspects arrested yesterday who gave his name as David said his boat was carrying 17 drums, claiming that he was sent by one Madam Joy in Port Harcourt who paid him N15,000 per return trip.

    He said: “I have been doing this for three months now. We work for Madam Joy. I am from Bayelsa State. I know it is bad but I do not have work.

    “We buy a drum from Bakana creek for N9, 000. We are paid N15, 000 each to move them to Port Harcourt,c he said.

    Elijah, 19, said he started four-months-ago because he lost his mother and had to fend for two yoinger siblings.

    “I am from Andoni in Rivers. My mother was a single mother. When she died, she left two siblings in my care and also work to pay my school fees. I had to work for one woman called Mama. She sends us to the creeks to buy diesel. She owns the boats and drums.

    “My job is to open the drums for those who sell to pass the content through a hose and thereafter, cover the drums when they are done. I have been doing this for four months to pay my siblings school fees. One of them is in Primary 3 and the other is in Primary 4. My madam pays me N4,000 per trip.”

    A woman, Patani, 31, who claimed to be a widow and mother of two said she was into the illegal trade to cater for her children.

    She said she came from Bayelsa State with her niece Gift Emmnuel, adding that she made a minimum of N5,000 per drum.

    Patani said the boat she was caught on was laden with 20 big drums.

    “My husband died, leaving me with two children. I have been living from hand to mouth until someone introduced me to this business. I was told it was lucrative.

    “First, I rented a boat and an engine for N10,000 and headed for Port Harcourt. Someone brought me to the bush to buy the product. I bought a drum for N9,000 and sold between N12,000 and N15,000, depending on the buyer’s bargaining power,” she said.

    Ahi who dived into the river as the boat was entering jetty but was surrounded by naval personnel claimed he was under distress to pay his house rent and did not have another way to get the money.

    Asked why he attempted an escape, Ahi said: “I was scared. I am a transporter. I was only hired by some people. I have never done this before. They said they would pay me N4000 at the end of the trip.

    Ibrahim, 17, a native of Kano State said: “I have only been there three times and I was paid N5000. I wanted to use the money to transport myself back to Kano. I appeal to the navy to forgive me. All they should do is to add to the N5,000 so that I will be able to go back to Kano.”

  • Navy seizes boat carrying stolen petrol

    Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT have seized a wooden boat carrying suspected stolen Premium Motor Spirit (petrol).

    The boat, which was confiscated around 1am on February 8, on Akaraba Island in Atlas Cove, Lagos was shown to reporters yesterday by Commander NNS BEECROFT Rear Admiral Okon Eyo.

    Eyo, represented by the base’s Executive Officer, Cpt. Paul Dogara, said the boat had 1,400 25-litre kegs laden with suspected stolen petrol as well as 27 empty drums and a 5×75HP outboard engine.

    He said: “The estimated suspected stolen petrol is 35,000-litre valued at about N5.75million, while the Cotonou boat and the outboard engines are valued at about N15million. The total sum of the seized boat with its contents is N20.75million.

    “It is to be noted that the Atlas Cove is central to reception and distribution of refined petroleum products to other Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depots at Mosimi, Ore, Ibadan and Sagamu. Consequently, the facility has become very attractive to vandals, petroleum thieves and pirates, among others.

    “The latest seizure by the base represents a major achievement of our constitutional mandate and a setback to the logistic requirements of the criminals.

    “The base will continue to dominate the nation’s waterways in order to prevent the theft of our common wealth.”

  • Nigerian Navy destroys over 134 illegal refineries in Delta

    The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta said it has destroyed more than 134 illegal refining sites in Delta state in the last one and a half weeks.

    The Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, who disclosed this to journalists during one of the operations in Jibo community, Warri South-West council area of the state on Saturday, also warned oil thieves and operators of illegal refineries to desist and find legitimate means of livelihoods or face the wrath of the law.

    Dewu, who was represented by the Executive Officer (XO) of the NNS Delta, Navy Captain Adeyemi Adewuyi, condemned the choice of some people in the Niger Delta to live on crime and continue to waste resources on ventures that will continuously be tracked and pulled down by government, pointing out the amount of financial resources committed to the illegal activities and their rippling effect on the nation’s economy.

    According to him, the illegal refining sites in Jibo community alone covered a stretch of more than four kilometers of swamp area, adding that the operators had set up more than 82 units of illegal refineries on the massive space of land.

    “First I’ll like to inform you that we are in Jibo community in Warri South-West council area of Delta state to carry out the destruction of illegal refineries with the use of swamp buggies. Currently we are employing two swamp buggies simultaneously to destroy the illegal refinery sites in this community.

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    “This illegal refining site is stretched about four kilometres, approximately. We have been able to trek the distance, having to wear rain boots because of the fact that it is swampy. Within that stretch, we have destroyed 82 illegal refinery units, including more than 32 dug pits in which they store stolen crude oil.

    “Although no arrest has been made, we are still relying on our informants to get some of the operators of the illegal refineries arrested. In the past, we have made several arrests and such culprits had been handed over to prosecuting agencies.

    “I will also like to intimate you that we started this operation from the Benin River, where we spent about five days, destroying illegal refineries. Benin River is in Warri North council area of the state and there we destroyed about 52 illegal refining sites, before we moved here and this is our fourth day here. We hope we should be able to round this operation off today.

    “My advice to oil thieves and the operators of this illegal refineries is to desist from it and look for legitimate businesses that they can engage in, instead of this economic sabotage that they are engaging in”, Dewu warned.

  • Navy arrests six Cameroonians smuggling contraband rice into Calabar

    Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Cross River State have arrested six Cameroonians smuggling 700 bags of parboiled foreign rice into the country through the Calabar Channel.

    Also arrested with the Cameroonians, who were in the country without requisite papers, were seven Nigerians, working with them.

    Commander, NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, who handed over the illegal immigrants to the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the seized rice and Nigerians to the Nigerian Customs Service, at the NNS Victory jetty in Calabar, said the contraband was worth about N11.2 million.

    “These six Cameroonians got involved in the smuggling of the parboiled rice and they entered into Nigeria without the requisite papers thereby violating the Immigrations Laws in Nigeria and that is why I invited the Immigration to hand him over while the Nigeria Customs Service will take over the rice and the other Nigerians who are involved in the smuggling.

    Read Also: Navy arrests 40 for alleged piracy

    “Christmas is coming and people want to make quick money by smuggling in rice into the country but the Nigerian Navy is hell bent on ensuring that the Federal Government on ban on importation of parboiled rice into the country is upheld.

    “We would never allow it as a service, and under the able leadership of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, we will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that our policing roles are upheld and we have the available platforms to patrol the waters, especially in the Eastern flank here,” Nwagu said.

    Assistant Comptroller of Immigration in charge of the Marine Unit, Tsumba Terna, who received the Cameroonians, said anyone entering Nigeria must have the requisite papers.

    He said they would be dealt with according to laid down procedures to handle such situations.

    A Superintendent of Customs, Akpan Ime Edet, also said the rice would be transferred to government warehouse, while the Nigeria suspects would face prosecution.

  • Navy arrests six Cameroonians smuggling contraband rice into Calabar

    Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Cross River State have arrested six Cameroonians smuggling 700 bags of parboiled foreign rice into the country through the Calabar Channel.

    Also arrested with the Cameroonians, who were in the country without requisite papers, were seven Nigerians, working with them.

    Commander, NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, who handed over the illegal immigrants to the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the seized rice and Nigerians to the Nigerian Customs Service, at the NNS Victory jetty in Calabar, said the contraband was worth about N11.2 million.

    “These six Cameroonians got involved in the smuggling of the parboiled rice and they entered into Nigeria without the requisite papers thereby violating the Immigrations Laws in Nigeria and that is why I invited the Immigration to hand him over while the Nigeria Customs Service will take over the rice and the other Nigerians who are involved in the smuggling.

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    “Christmas is coming and people want to make quick money by smuggling in rice into the country but the Nigerian Navy is hell bent on ensuring that the Federal Government on ban on importation of parboiled rice into the country is upheld.

    “We would never allow it as a service, and under the able leadership of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, we will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that our policing roles are upheld and we have the available platforms to patrol the waters, especially in the Eastern flank here,” Nwagu said.

    Assistant Comptroller of Immigration in charge of the Marine Unit, Tsumba Terna, who received the Cameroonians, said anyone entering Nigeria must have the requisite papers.

    He said they would be dealt with according to laid down procedures to handle such situations.

    A Superintendent of Customs, Akpan Ime Edet, also said the rice would be transferred to government warehouse, while the Nigeria suspects would face prosecution.

  • Navy seizes 2, 860 bags of contraband rice worth over N50m

    …Arrests five in Calabar

     

    Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar have arrested a large wooden boat laden with 2, 860 bags of contraband foreign rice, worth over N50 million naira, as well as five suspects.

    Commander, NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, who paraded the suspects and seized items in Calabar Wednesday, said the arrest was made along the Calabar Channel by the anti-smuggling patrol of the base when they got intelligence reports about the activities of the suspected smugglers.

    Nwagu, who was represented by the Executive Officer of NNS Victory, Navy Captain Babafemi Ajayi, said the boat was suspected to have come in Cameroon and headed for Calabar.

    He said, “The boat was hidden with the intention that when it is dark, then they can use smaller boats to evacuate the products into their warehouse in Calabar. We stationed our patrolmen in that particular area and luckily we saw the five men when they wanted to carry out their assignment. They were arrested and further findings revealed their warehouse which when we got there, we discovered the consignments. So we evacuated everything here and escorted the boat to NNS Victory jetty.

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    “Totally we evacuated 2860 bags of foreign rice. In compliance to the extant rules everything has to be handed over to the Nigerian Customs Service for further prosecution.

    “We warn all smugglers to desist. The money wasted on this is a great loss and the Navy is bent is on ensuring that problem is stopped in the country. We implore these people to look for something else to do instead of this because it would not get them anywhere. We are resolved that we shall not allow this to persist within our area of responsibility. They would be the losers at the end.”

    Assistant Controller of Customs, Omachi Joshua, representing the Eastern Marine Command based in Calabar, who received the items and suspects said the items would take to the government warehouse and the suspects would be prosecuted according to laid down rules.

    “The bags of rice are subsequently forfeited to the Federal Government and they would take the matter to court for condemnation and whatever the government issues is what we would follow,” he said.

  • Navy pledges support for grassroots sports in Niger Delta

    The Nigerian Navy has pledged continued support for grassroots sports in host communities as part of plans to curb youth restiveness and insecurity in the Niger Delta.

    Commodore Idi Abbas, the Commander of Naval Anti-Piracy Task Group, Port Harcourt, gave the pledge on the side-lines of a friendly football match organised by the Navy in Port Harcourt on Monday.

    The newsmen reports that the football match between personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship ( NNS ) Pathfinder and Osklean Football Academy Rumuolumeni ended in a draw.

    Abbas said the match was organised to improve fitness of troops; address youth restiveness and promote peace in its Rumuolumeni, the host community.

    “The NNS Pathfinder organised the football match to keep our personnel fit, knowing fully that it is only when the personnel are fit that they will effectively deliver on the job.

    “The other reason is to further foster that cordial relationship of officers and ratings of the base and the host community.

    “This is just the beginning and it is hoped that other games would be looked into with participation of the host community.

    “By doing this, the naval base will get to know its host community and the community members will also get to know their own neighbours,” he said.

    Abbas said there are plans to expand the games to feature other sporting events like volleyball and basketball, saying that the base had excellent sporting facilities to host future games.

    The commander advised the participating teams to use the game to sharpen their skills to stand a chance of representing the country in further sporting events.

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    Also speaking, the Paramount Ruler of Rumuolumeni community, Eze Ndubueze Olumeni, commended the Navy for organising the games with the host community.

    He said that community members had always looked forward to socialize with the naval base since it came into the community 25 years ago.

    “This is a naval base and not a civilian environment, and so, it has been difficult for our people to feel free to enter here for any activity.

    “We appreciate this type of event and we hope that if we continue like this; our relationship will improve and everyone will be happy for it.”

    NAN

  • Navy seizes 3, 574 bags of contraband rice worth N53.6m

    Navy seizes 3, 574 bags of contraband rice worth N53.6m

    Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar have arrested a large wooden boat laden with 3,574 bags of contraband foreign rice smuggled from Cameroon, worth N53.6 million naira, as well as three suspects.

    Commander, NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, said the arrest was made along the Calabar Waterway in the early hours of February 27 when they got information about the activities of the suspected smugglers.

    He said the boat came from Cameroon and was headed for Calabar.

    Addressing reporters at NNS Victory jetty before handing over the items and suspects to the Nigerian Customs Service, Nwagu said, “In the early hours of 27th February, we got information about a boat laden with rice and my patrol team arrested the boat and three suspects on the boat. We brought the boat to base and offloaded the rice. It took us two and a half days to offload. After counting, we got 3, 574 bags valued at N53. 6 million. We would hand them over to the Nigerian Customs Service for further investigation and prosecution.

    “I want to tell general public that the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas will not leave any stone unturned in pursuing those involved in any form of criminality, and we in the Eastern Naval Command, particularly NNS Victory are all out to fight criminality at any level.

    “We are aware of government policies and restrictions on foreign rice. We have arrested the people involved in economic sabotage and we are going to continue arresting them. So I advise the general public to do what is right. I warn that anyone who indulges in such, we are going to catch them. They cannot escape our watchful eyes.”

    The Calabar Area Assistant Comptroller of Customs Customs, Omachi Joshua, who received the items and suspects, appreciated the Navy for their effort.

    He said the rice would be evacuated to the government warehouse of the Customs Area Command in Calabar, while the suspects would be prosecuted.

    One of the suspects, Moses Azazi, from Bayelsa State said they were aware they had contraband on board.

    “We were bringing the rice from Cameroon and were arrested by the Navy. We were aware it was contraband. I don’t know the owner of the rice. We were just asked to transport it to Calabar from Kondo in Cameroon to Calabar. This is my first time,” he said.

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  • Navy arrests six Bangladeshi, 16 Nigerians for stealing diesel

    Navy arrests six Bangladeshi, 16 Nigerians for stealing diesel

    Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory of the Nigerian Navy in Calabar has arrested six Bangladesh nationals and 16 Nigerians for allegedly illegally diverting 22 metric tonnes of diesel in an illegal Ship to Ship (STS) transfer along the Calabar water channel.

    Commander NNS Victory, Commodore Salihu Ibn Danhu Jibril, the vessel, NV Princess Oge, which brought the product from offshore Lome to deliver to a tank farm in Calabar was discovered carrying out the illegal activity and was immediately arrested.

    Addressing reporters on board the vessel along the Calabar Channel before handing over the suspects and vessel to the Nigerian Police Saturday, Jibril said the Princess Oge was a bunkering bunkering ship that was given permission to deliver and discharge cargo in Calabar.

    “Along the way she was found to have found transfer to ship transfer illegally to another ship and consequently we arrested the ship. She was arrested and brought here and having conducted our investigation and found their operation in line with our harmonized standard procedures for illegal activities for in the marine environment, we are formally now handing over the ship, crew and cargo to the Nigerian police for further investigation and prosecution.

    “The suspects include 22 persons of different nationalities. We have six from Bangladesh and 16 Nigerians. The vessel was given permission to move AGO cargo to Calabar. In line with extant regulations we are handing them over to the police.  The quantity that was diverted illegally was 22 metric tonnes missing from the initial cargo that she was supposed to deliver from what she took at the port of intake. The port of intake was offshore Lome, and is supposed to one of the tank farms in Calabar.”