Navy hands over nine suspected oil thieves to EFCC in A’Ibom
The Nigerian Navy has handed over nine suspected oil thieves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following their arrest for alleged involvement in illegal bunkering activities in Akwa Ibom State.
The Commander of NNS Jubilee, Commodore Mohammed Manga, disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday in Ibaka while formally transferring the suspects and recovered exhibits to the Commission for further investigation and prosecution.
Commodore Manga stated that on 23 February, personnel of NNS Jubilee, in collaboration with sister units including Nigerian Navy Ship BONNY and Nigerian Navy Ship SHIRORO, apprehended a wooden boat at an oil platform located offshore in the Asabo oil field, Akwa Ibom.
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*Navy hands over nine suspected oil Thieves to EFCC
Etim Ekpimah
The Nigerian Navy has handed over nine suspected oil thieves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following their arrest for alleged involvement in illegal bunkering activities in Akwa Ibom State.
The Commander of NNS Jubilee, Commodore Mohammed Manga, disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday in Ibaka while formally transferring the suspects and recovered exhibits to the Commission for further investigation and prosecution.
Commodore Manga stated that on 23 February, personnel of NNS Jubilee, in collaboration with sister units including Nigerian Navy Ship BONNY and Nigerian Navy Ship SHIRORO, apprehended a wooden boat at an oil platform located offshore in the Asabo oil field, Akwa Ibom.
According to him, the boat and its nine-member crew were intercepted while allegedly attempting to siphon crude oil illegally from the platform. The vessel was subsequently handed over to the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka.
He said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were engaged in illegal bunkering — a criminal activity that undermines Nigeria’s economic stability, threatens maritime security and causes significant environmental degradation.
“The wooden boat and the nine suspects on board were arrested without incident,” Manga said. “The boat and tools used for the illicit operation were confiscated in line with extant regulations and operational procedures.”
The Commander reiterated the Base’s unwavering commitment to combating maritime crimes within its area of operations. He noted that the arrest formed part of ongoing efforts to implement the strategic directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, aimed at eradicating crude oil theft.
Manga added that NNS Jubilee has sustained a high operational tempo through enhanced routine maritime patrols, anti-crude oil theft operations, anti-illegal bunkering measures and intelligence-driven surveillance.
“These patrols are strategically designed to protect critical national assets, safeguard offshore and coastal infrastructure, and secure commercial maritime routes within our operational environment,” he said.
He further disclosed that the Base had strengthened intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration and surveillance mechanisms to effectively track, disrupt and dismantle criminal networks operating in the maritime domain.
Manga warned perpetrators of illegal maritime activities to desist immediately, stressing that the Nigerian Navy remains resolute in its constitutional mandate to secure Nigeria’s waters.
He also reassured law-abiding citizens and maritime stakeholders of the Navy’s continued commitment to ensuring safety, security and economic prosperity within its area of responsibility.
Receiving the suspects and exhibits on behalf of the EFCC, Mr Taiwo Adetona said the commission would carry out thorough investigations to identify and prosecute other individuals connected to the alleged economic crime.
