Nigerian Navy has arrested two suspected crude oil thieves, one tanker truck and a Mazda vehicle loaded with 1,300 illegally refined products in Bayelsa State.
The commander, Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH (NNS), Commodore Sunday Lakan, stated this yesterday when he paraded the suspects, the truck and Mazda vehicle before newsmen at the NNS SOROH base.
Commodore Lakan said that under the mandate of the Chief of Naval Staff and the mandate of Operation Delta Safe, the NNS SOROH have continued to carry out patrol in all areas within Bayelsa.
He said the Navy acting on credible intelligence, received an information of product being stolen and transported from illegally refined site.
„Our men were dispatched to the area and reaching the scene this truck behind me was arrested with suspected crude oil stolen from a well head.
„However, on sighting our men the driver of the truck abandoned the truck 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.
„So, while still on patrol, we arrested this 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 and we arrested them back to the base, and thorough investigation will be carried out,“ he said.
One of the suspects, Mr Nelson Adeh, said he is a driver who carried the products for the lady from JK4 community to Mbiama before the naval men in a van arrested him. He pleaded for forgiveness and promised not to indulge in such illegal business if granted bail.