Naval corps spoil fun for oil theives

Adelowo Oladipo, Lagos

Five persons suspected to be members of a deadly gang of illegal oil theives have been arrested in Ondo State with several badges containing several metric tons of petroleum products and a truck loaded with crude oil by men of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps.

Crime File gathered that the said arrest was carried out during the week by a joint task force team of men of the military Naval Corps in Ondo State and police personnel with men of the 11 Battalion of the Nigerian Army at Arogbo-Ijaw town in Ondo State.

A statement from the merchant Navy Corps National Headquarters in Lagos signed by Lt. Isaac Omolade Ademolekun made available to Crime File in Lagos said the success was recorded after they received a report that some people were engaging in illegal oil bunkering activities at a community in Ondo State while a team of the corps members from both the headquarters in Lagos and Ondo states stormed the area.

The release added that they reportedly succeeded in fencing off some of the oil bunkerers and recovered the badge they were using for the illegal activity.

“They later went to the point where they were engaged in the act and arrested some of the boys with their pumping machines and some crude oil in their possession, including a large sum of money with a mobile phone,” said the release.

Lt. Adamolekun further explained that all the persons apprehended together with the exhibits were handed over to the 323 Artillery Army Barracks in Akure, Ondo State, where they assured the Merchant Navy Corps of their continued support and cooperation in checking the illegal activities of oil theives in the country.