The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Navy Ship

  • Navy seizes 100,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, arrests eight in Calabar

    Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar, Cross River State, have seized 100, 000 litres of illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO) popularly known as diesel, as well as arrested eight suspects.

     

    Commander of NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, said the arrests were made along the Calabar Channel, when they got intelligence reports about the activities of the suspects, believed to be coming from Rivers State.

     

    Parading the suspects and seized items, which also included a large wooden boat, known as Cotonou Boat,at the NNS Victory jetty before handing over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Nwagu said the Navy will always be a step ahead of those perpetrating criminalities in the country’s maritime domain.

     

    He said the seized items were worth over N23 million.

    Read Also: Navy seizes 2, 860 bags of contraband rice worth over N50m

     

    He said, “We all know the consequences of people taking the laws into their hands to sabotage the efforts of the government and the efforts the Nigeria navy is putting to ensuring that the perpetuators of this illegal activities are brought to book. I am here to and over the suspects, the cargo and the Cotonou boats to the NSCDC to take over them in accordance with the extant regulations.

     

    “We are ever ready any time to go after criminals. If they do not want to hear and continue to perpetrate in this trade, we are here to collect it from them and arrest them. The Nigerian Navy is a step ahead. Our maritime domain awareness is up and running. There is no hiding place for perpetrators. Once you commit your resources to illegal and contraband products, and you want to pass them through our maritime domain, be rest assured we are going to catch you. Any attempt they make, the Nigerian Navy is a step ahead.”

     

    Commandant Stephen Lar in charge of NSCDC, Cross River State Command, who received the suspects and items, appreciated Navy for the synergy in fighting criminality.

     

    He said they would carry out further investigations and then prosecute the suspects.

     

    He said if they are convicted, the items would be forfeited to the Federal Government.

     

     

  • Navy arrests 386,000 ltrs Crude Oil Vessel, 9 Persons in Delta.

    A vessel containing over 386,000 litres of crude oil, alongside nine suspects, has been arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), Delta.

    Commander of the Naval Base, Warri, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, disclosed this on Wednesday when the cargo, MT Nipal, with the nine persons of varying ages, was handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), near the base.

    Speaking after handing over the suspects and the vessel to the EFFC for further investigations, Commodore Dewu explained that they were arrested for illegally siphoning crude oil at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Afremo field.

    Disclosing that the arrest was made on January 31, the commander said four out of the eight tanks of the vessel bore the product.

    He said, “MT Nipal was arrested 31 January, 2018. The vessel was arrested in SPDC Afremo Field. It had 386,000 litres of crude oil.

    Read Also: Ex-naval chief: I contacted Navy to stop Offa robbery

    “We first carry out investigations, thereafter we hand over to security agencies which we are doing today. We have handed over to the vessel with its crew, about nine Nigerians on board, to the EFCC to carry out full investigations.”

    Dewu who warned that the Nigerian Navy will not relent in its efforts against illegal operations on the waterways which he described as the NNS’ responsibility, advised those who seek to go into crude business do so legally.

    “My advice to them is that they should desist from carrying out these illegal activities. If they want to go into oil business, there are proper ways they can do that. Nothing will stop us from getting them arrested because this is our work. Stay away from illegalities,” Dewu said.

    Meanwhile the EFCC, after collecting samples of the product on the vessel, has promised to carry out full findings on the nine arrested men on board MT Nipal.

    According to the Senior Detective Superintendent (SDS), EFCC Benin, Mr. Richard Ogberagha, who led a team of the commission to the naval base, “EFCC will carry out preliminary investigations to determine the evidence of the involvement of the people.”

  • Navy seizes 130,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, arrests seven

    Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar, Cross River State, have seized a large wooden boat with about 130 litres of suspected illegally refined Automative Gas Oil (AGO) commonly known as diesel.

    Also arrested along with the items were seven suspects.

    Addressing reporters while handing over the items and suspects to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Commander of NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, said they were intercepted along the Calabar channel.

    He said the boat contained 520 drums (250 litres each) of suspected illegally refined diesel.

    The Navy commander put the worth of the product at about N24 million.

    “My men on patrol intercepted a wooden boat laden with 520 drums of suspected illegally refined AGO and when I was informed, I asked them to arrest the boat and bring the boat to my base. That was done and the following day we commenced offloading and I am here hand over the drums to Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    “Seven men were arrested with the products. We are handing over everything. The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, gave me directives and the directives were clear on issues of illegalities and I want to assure you that I will not blink until perpetrators of heinous sabotage to our national economy are brought to book.

    “On investigation, we found that that these products came from Rivers State and the final destination was Calabar before they ran into my security patrol boats,” Nwagu said.

    Commander of the NSCDC in Cross River State, Haliru Usman Alhassan thanked the Navy for a good job.

    “They are fighting illegality successfully, and this is a good synergy between the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps. I am here to receive the items and suspects to be charged to court and prosecute them diligently. I promise the Navy that each level we are in the prosecution, we would be furnishing them with the information, so that at least they know how we are going. This is a lesson and others involved in such illegalities should desist,” Alhassan said.

    He said what would happen to the products would depend on what they court says.

    The leader of the suspects, Christopher Okon, 30, from Mbo in Akwa Ibom State said it was his second time on such trip.

    He said they brought the products from Rivers State to sell in Calabar.

    He said the business belonged to one Mr Tony.

  • Navy impounds 5.790m litres of crude, arrest 11 suspects

    Navy impounds 5.790m litres of crude, arrest 11 suspects

    The Nigerian Navy said it had seized a large vessel, MT Breakthrough, for allegedly transporting 4,574 metric tons (5.790 million litres) of crude oil.

    Capt. Victor Choji, the Executive Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, told newsmen on Friday that the product was suspected to have been stolen from pipelines in Niger Delta.

    Choji said that the 11 sailors were arrested on board the vessel.

    According to him, the vessel has been on the Navy watch list for suspicious activities over time before the seizure.

    “On Jan. 12, MT Breakthrough was arrested by our troops onboard naval patrol gunboats on Dutch Island for suspicious illegal bunkering activities.

    “The vessel which has been under our surveillance for switching off its automatic identification system – to hide its location- was carrying 4,574 metric tons (5,790 million litres) of crude oil.

    “The vessel which was shipping crude oil illegally had 11 all-male crew members of Nigerian nationality onboard the vessel,” he said.

    Choji said the navy had increased its tempo to make it difficult for criminals to steal crude or sabotage the nation’s oil and installations.

    “Investigation would reveal where the vessel was transporting the product to; where it was sourced and who the sponsors are.

    Read Also: Navy  hands over 3 suspects, 759 bags of smuggled rice to Customs

    “It is on this note that we are handing over the crew members and vessel to EFCC to further unravel details of activities of the suspected illegal shipment,” he said.

    The executive officer said that the personnel of NNS Pathfinder would continue to carry out 24-hour patrol of the waterways and creeks, while maintaining presence at flash points.

    A senior officer of the EFCC, Musa Gidado, said the commission would conduct speedy investigation on the matter.

    Gidado said that the suspects would be arraigned if found culpable of the allegations against them.

    In a related development, Choji presented to newsmen 10 suspected fake naval personnel.

    They were alleged to have been terrorising and swindling commercial boat operators in the state.

    He said the suspects used fake naval uniforms, identification and posed as personnel of the Merchant Navy with the intent to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

    “On Jan. 31, the NNS Pathfinder naval outpost at Abuloma arrested 11 men armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons; dressed in uniform with badges bearing Naval Police.

    “The suspects were about to board a boat under pretext of going for naval boat control when they were arrested. The activities of these criminal elements and organisations have been proscribed.

    “We have strong reason to believe that criminals, especially cult members could mutate into groups like this to unleash mayhem on Nigerians,” he said.

    He said that the Nigerian Navy was the only naval force authorised by law to carry arms and enforce laws within the nation’s maritime environment.

    The Executive Officer said the suspects breached the nation’s laws by going about presenting themselves to unsuspecting individuals and companies as personnel of both merchants and Nigerian navy.

    “The public should be wary of these criminal elements that hide under the cover of maritime forces to commit atrocities and extort money and properties from unsuspecting citizens.

    “We have conducted our investigation and the suspects would be handed over to the Nigerian Police for further investigations that would reveal their sponsors,” he said.

    NAN

  • Navy rescue four Chinese men from kidnappers

    Navy rescue four Chinese men from kidnappers

    The Nigerian Navy in Lagos on Thursday said they rescued four Chinese men from kidnappers around Igbokoda area of Ondo State.

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Sylvanus Abbah, told journalists in Lagos that the four victims were abducted on board a fishing trawler within the Lagos waters on December 14.

    According to him, operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT rescued the abducted Chinese nationals from a militant camp in the riverine area of Ondo State.

    He said that after the abduction, the kidnappers took their victims in a speed boat to Igbokoda, Ondo State the same day.

    “Naval operatives attached to Forward Operations Base (FOB) who sighted the kidnappers as they were entering Igbokoda gave them a hot pursuit.

    “The kidnappers opened fire on the naval gunboat.

    “There was a fierce gun battle between the suspects and the naval men and the hoodlums abandoned their boats and fled on foot through the creeks,” he said.

    Abbah said that the naval men went after the suspects who later abandoned the four Chinese men and fled.

    “Presently efforts are ongoing to arrest the suspects.

    “The Chinese sustained bullet wounds during the gun battle and they have been treated and are in stable condition,” he said.

    Read also: Navy uncovers hotel where fuel is siphoned in Lagos

    Meanwhile, the Acting Chinese Consul General in Nigeria, Mr Guan Zhonggi, who paid a thank you visit to the FOC, commended the navy for its prompt intervention.

    He said that the four Chinese men regained their freedom because of the swift action of the naval men.

    NAN

  • Navy urges DSS to hunt sea pirate network in Rivers

    Navy urges DSS to hunt sea pirate network in Rivers

    The Nigerian Navy has called on the Department of State Security ( DSS ) to go after the sponsors of notorious sea pirate network believed to be terrorising costal waterways in Rivers and environs.

    Capt. Victor Choji, the Executive Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship ( NNS ) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt made the call when he handed over five suspected sea pirates to DSS operatives on Wednesday.

    He said aside piracy, the suspects allegedly carried out several kidnappings and robbed vessels as well as innocent commuters and their valuables in the maritime domain of Rivers.

    “The suspects were arrested at various times between October 31, and November 12, following credible intelligence on their involvement in armed robbery at sea, kidnapping and piracy.

    “The suspects have availed us with sufficient information to the extent of their illegal activities within the maritime space of Rivers state.

    “So, we are handing them over to the DSS, so that they can unravel the extent of this network and to also uncover their collaborators and sponsors.

    “We believe that if this is done, then we can nip it (crime) in the bud once and for all, thus bringing peace within the maritime space of Rivers state,” he said.

    Read also: Navy to launch 20 new patrol boats in Delta-Ag.Director

    Choji said the navy had observed that whenever troops destroy illegal refineries and bunkering sites, perpetrators often times mutate to piracy, kidnapping and sea robbery.

    He said the trend was particularly worrisome to the navy but assured that strategic measures had been put in place to tackle the ugly development.

    According to him, the navy has succeeded in reducing illegal bunkering and oil theft to its barest minimum, in collaboration with other security agencies in the state.

    “But, what we are seeing now is actually a mutation of this other crimes to kidnapping and piracy and the likes.

    “However, we have re-strategised, and as such confident that within the shortest times that these crimes at sea would be brought to the barest minimum as well.

    “This will ensure that we have safety and security within the maritime environment for lawful activities to take place,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Oil theft: Navy apprehends Nigerian, nine foreigners in Delta

    The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), DELTA said it has nabbed 10 suspected oil thieves onboard MT TECNE Vessel in Delta.

    The Commander of NNS Delta, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, disclosed  while parading the suspects at Focados River, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta on Wednesday.

    The suspects are one Nigerian, two Pakistanis,  three Ghanians, one Indonésian, one Béninois and  two Ukrainians.

    Dewu said that  the suspects were caught in the early hours of Tuesday while siphoning  crude oil into the vessel from Afremo A platform, a loading jacket belonging to the Shell Petroleum and Development Company (SPDC) in Forcados River.

    According to him, they had siphoned about 2000 metric tonnes of crude oil from the loading jacket before they were caught.

    “Based on intelligence report, at about 02:50am  on April 25, 2017, MT Tecne (registered in Panama), was apprehended by  NNS Delta patrol team with 10 crew onboard.

    “They are one Nigerian, two Pakistanis,  three Ghanians, one Indonésian, one Béninois and  two Ukrainians, the Nigerian among them is the Chief Officer while the Captain is a Pakistani.

    “This vessel has been around our water, what they do is that they go into the high sea during the day, they come late night and connect to the Jacket and siphon crude oil.

    “We have been trailing them for three days, this is the forth night and the vessel is fully ladened with illegal crude oil and this is what they keep doing,” he said.

    The Commander said that the feat was the outcome of the ongoing “Operation Delta Safe Operation River Sweep Two and Operation Tsare Teku” mandates of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS).

    He said that the navy would continue to check illegalities in the nation`s maritime domain.

    He advised oil companies owning loading jackets to keep constant watch on their platforms.

    “Most of the oil companies have service boats, so they should make it a point of duty to keep watching these jacket both day and night,” he said.

    Dewu said that the suspects and the vessel would be handed over to the prosecuting agency after investigations.

    One of the suspects, a Nigerian, said he joined the TECNE company in 2016 adding that he was directed by one Mr Victor to load crude oil from the jacket.

    The captain of the Ship, said he was not aware that their action was illegal.

    “We came to load here, I don’t know it is unofficial, I don’t know it is illegal bunkering, we load at night for three days.This is my first time,” he said.

     

  • Navy hands over six suspected pirates to police

    Navy hands over six suspected pirates to police

    Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft Thursday handed over six suspected pirates to the police.

    They were handed over to the Inspector General of Police  (IGP) Special Investigation Panel from Abuja by the Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commordore Abraham Adaji.

    While four of the suspects- Paul Adeyemi, Samuel Timothy, Joshua Ayo and Collins Adebayo- were arrested in February after they hijacked an oil Vessel, MT MAXIMUS off the coast of Cote D’Ivoire, the navy nabbed Gani Mustapha and Tunde Abdulraman in the course of investigation.
    According to Adaji, Mustapha was arrested because he is the owner of a rogue vessel, DEJIKUN, which the suspects used to hijack MT MAXIMUS.

    He explained that Abdulraman who was the Captain of DEJIKUN was also arrested because investigations conducted by the navy indicated that DEJIKUN was used by the pirates to syphon petroleum products from the hijacked vessel.

    “We handed over to the police because we have concluded our investigations. The Naval headquarters has been in touch with the Inspector General of Police and because of the interest he has in the matter, he sent a special team from Abuja to come and take the suspects,” he said.

    The Nation reports that the suspects were arrested and the hijacked vessel rescued by Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OKPABANA at about 390 nautical miles off Lagos coast.

    But before NN personnel got to the ship, two of its crew members were kidnapped and taken away some of the criminals.

    In the course of rescuing the vessel and the rest of the crew, one of the pirates, a Nigerian, was killed during a gun battle.

  • Navy arrest bunkering suspects in Warri

    Navy arrest bunkering suspects in Warri

    The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, has paraded two suspected oil thieves, recently arrested during patrols and raids of criminal camps around the creeks of the Warri South-West council area of Delta state in the last six days.

    Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, while parading the suspects and some equipment recovered from camps raided Wednesday also alerted of the new brazen methods that now being adopted by oil thieves.

    Raimi who said the daily operations, which started last week Thursday, had seen to the destruction of four illegal refineries camps and four crude oil-laden Cotonou boats. Some of the communities where the operations were carried out were Safama, Bonny Creek, John 40 and Okogbene.

    Describing the details of how oil thieves now advance their trade, Raimi revealed that his patrols had discovered that oil thieves had been laying their own pipelines to connect to the major pipelines, which are currently being repaired.

    He said some had also been discovered where they were stealing crude oil directly from abandoned well heads in the creeks.

    “Within the last five days my men have been able to locate and destroyed at least three illegal refineries and another two manifolds where these oil thieves steal crude oil from. Between last week Thursday and now we’ve carried out four raids on different locations, including this one that we just carried out.

    “Ordinarily, these manifolds or well heads some of them look abandoned, may be because it’s no longer economical to run them, but these people (oil thieves) have a way of forcing crude out of them. My advice is for the concerned oil companies to seal them off completely if they are no longer useful.

    “The trend we have observed in the last few days is that a lot of major repairs are being done on the pipelines by the federal government and some of these vandals think this is the best time to also quickly make connection to the pipes, but because we have been on their trail and we are actually catching some of them, they are now moving to these oil well heads to steal products.

    “As you can see here, we have recovered a lot of the gears they use; all the connecting equipments, the ones they use in cutting the pipes and so on. We also suspect that, with the amount of cables we have recovered that they might also give us a clue, by the time we are done with Investigations, that they might also be engaged in other things, more than just stealing crude, especially blowing up of pipelines.

    “For now, in the recent raids, we have arrested two. Just like you have observed, immediately they see us coming, they’ll just run away. Even at night, when they hear the sound of boats they’ll just run away and of course, we won’t want to use maximum force to say we want to arrest them but after running we still have a way of getting back at them and those who send them”, he said.

    The naval chief, however, said that arrested suspects, as well as one other, who was arrested while impersonating navy personnel would be handed over to the police for prosecution.