The Nigerian Navy has arrested two suspected crude oil thieves, seizing one tank truck and a Mazda vehicle loaded with 1,300 litres of illegally refined products in Bayelsa state.

The Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH, Commodore Sunday Lakan, made this known on Thursday, April 11, during the parade of the suspects and the seized truck and car at the NNS SOROH base in Yenagoa.

The Commander, who assumed duty on February 19, 2024, after taking over from Commodore Olushina Ojebode, said under the mandate of the Chief of Naval Staff and that of Operation Delta Safe, the NNS SOROH had continued to carry out its patrols in all areas within the state.

He said the suspects and the vehicles were arrested by the operatives based on credible intelligence that some stolen products were being transported from an illegally refined site.

Lekan said: “Our men were dispatched to the area and on reaching the scene the truck was arrested with suspected crude oil stolen from a wellhead.

“However on sighting our men the driver of the truck abandoned it and ran away, but he left the key behind. We were able to convey the truck to the base for further investigation and necessary action.

“While still on patrol, we arrested the other vehicle Mazda 323 with products tied inside sacks suspected to be illegally refined AGO popularly known as diesel and kerosene about 1,300 litres.

“Also we arrested two suspects, a male and a female conveying the products. They have been brought back to the Base, and a thorough investigation will be carried out.”

The Commander assured Nigerians that all procedures would be followed and all the arrested suspects would be handed over to the appropriate authority or agency for further investigation and necessary action.

He said that the truck was coming from the Biseni area in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state, noting that the breached wellhead is owned by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

Lekan added: “One of the arrested suspects said they got it from the market named AK. Further investigation will reveal it for further necessary action.”

He urged those involved in illegality to desist from it and look for legitimate business to do, warning that the law will surely catch up with them sooner or later.

The commander sought the cooperation of lawful citizens of Nigeria to assist the military in carrying out its operations to curb crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal refining sites, saying they cause a lot of damage to the country’s economy.

One of the suspects, Mr Nelson Adeh, said he was a driver who carried the products for the lady from the JK4 community to Mbiama before he was arrested.

He pleaded for forgiveness and promised never to indulge in such illegal business again if granted bail. (The Nations Newspaper)