Troops of the Nigerian Navy in the Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have arrested 10 suspects and impounded a vessel containing a petroleum product suspected to be crude oil in the state.
The Commander of a Navy Ship, NNS Jubilee in Ikot Abasi, Commodore Madumom Ide, disclosed this in Ibaka in the Mbo Local Government Area of the state on Friday, February 9, emphasizing that the vessel impounded was called Motor Tanker Queen Hansal.
Ide revealed that the suspects and the vessel were arrested on December 28, 2023.
The Navy Commodore said, “10 suspects were arrested, all Nigerians, one captain, and nine crew members in the vessel. The vessel as it stands has a capacity of 1,022 tonnes (and) translates to over 7,000 barrels of oil which is over N800m.
“Imagine what that amount will do for the community and country at large.”
Ide stressed that the Nigerian Navy was committed to safeguarding the maritime space and warned criminal elements involved in economic sabotage to desist or be arrested.
Revealing further, he said the suspects, the crude oil, and the vessel would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation and prosecution.
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