The Nigerian Navy has arrested two suspected crude oil thieves, it also impounded one tank truck and a Mazda vehicle loaded with 1,300 illegally refined products, in Bayelsa State .
This was disclosed by the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Soroh, Commodore Sunday Lakan, while parading the suspects at the base of the NNS Soroh in Yenagoa, the State capital,
He said under the mandate of the Chief of Naval Staff and Operation Delta Safe, the NNS Soroh had continued to carry out patrol in all areas within Bayelsa.
According to Commodore Lakan, NNS Soroh, acting on credible intelligence, received information of products being stolen and transported from illegally refined sites immediately acted to arrest the culprits.
“Our men were dispatched to the area and on 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 and 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, a Mazda 323 with products tied in 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 brought them back to the base. A thorough investigation will be carried out,” he said.
The Navy Commander assured Nigerians that all those arrested would be handed over to the appropriate authority or agency for further action.
