Kingsley Omonobi
18 September 2007
Abuja — The Nigerian Navy said yesterday it had arrested over 236 ships, tugboats, and barges engaged in crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other vices on the high seas resulting in about 80 per cent reduction in crude oil theft within the last three years.
It achieved this results following increased patrols and presence at sea, of warships and patrol vessels years which led to the arrest of pirate bunkering ships described as 'depot' ships that accept stolen crude oil from smaller ships, barges and tugboats.
According to a statement signed by Capt. Henry Babalola, Director of Naval Information, "without these depot ships, crude oil theft becomes unattractive as barges and canoes cannot make hazardous voyage to the high seas and receiving countries. It also reduces the rate of attack and death of Naval personnel who are often most vulnerable within the vicinity of the depot ships".
Emphasizing that "crude oil theft is perpetuated by powerful and ruthless cartels assisted by notorious ship owners and corrupt government officials that benefit immensely from the illicit trade", the statement said, "the cartel is waiting for the release of one of the depot ships MT FRANCIS, before using the same method to release over 45 of these depot ships for more crude oil theft and gun-running to destabilize Nigeria since the nefarous trade thrives more when there is chaos."
On controversy surrounding the non release of some of the ships, Babalola said, "The Nigerian Navy only arrest vessels when there are reasonable grounds for their arrest. MT Francis for instance, was arrested off Sombriero River (a notorious and dangerous haven of crude oil theft and other vices). At the time of arrest, the ship was laden with 500 metric tons of crude oil suspected to had been stolen since the ship at the time was not nominated to by NNPC to load, discharge or export crude oil."
"She did not also have naval clearance to be at location. The ship was arrested with nine other ships and several attempts including blackmail, threats and outright hijacking.
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