The Nigerian Navy has expressed concern over the delay in the prosecution of crude oil theft suspects noting that it has placed a huge burden on its activities.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, disclosed this during the parade of 12 crew members arrested onboard a vessel laden with 650 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil in Calabar on Tuesday.
While calling for speedy discharge of cases involving crude oil theft, Okehie noted that the delay had caused the Naval a lot in terms of administration and taking care of ceased vessels. He noted that the ENC had no fewer than four ceased vessels in its possession dating back to 2022. He however vowed that the fight against crude oil theft would continue unabated in spite of these seeming challenges.
The FOC pointed out that those involved in the activities of crude oil theft were not just economic saboteurs, but waging war against the country. He described it as an “organized crime of ecosystem with international collaborators”. According to him, the 12 crew members involved in the latest arrest were all Nigerians but on a foreign flagship, highlighting the trans-national nature of the crime.
Okehie gave the assurance that the Chief of Naval Staff had given them all the resources and the guidelines to achieve, reduce, and ultimately stop totally the issue of crude oil theft in Nigeria.
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