The
Nigerian Navy, said, that a total of 47 stowaways on board
some merchant vessels in the Niger Delta, preparatory to depart the
shores of Nigeria were detected by the eagle eyes of its personnel and
prevented from achieving their nefarious objectives.
The development came
as it noted that it had intensified ongoing clampdown on illegal crude
oil thieves, illegal refineries and other related crimes in the maritime
areas.
To this end, it asked all captains of merchant vessels and all
seafarers to be vigilant and report suspicious movement around their
vessels in order to enhance the security of their vessels. The Navy said
the operation, which led to the successes within five days, last week,
was conducted in conjunction with other security partners.
A statement
by its Director of Information, Rear Admiral Christian Ezekobe, said the
vigilance of the service personnel helped to avert the departure of the
stowaways in the merchant vessels. He said: “The vigilance of the
service personnel helped to avert the departure of more than 47
stowaways who attempted to leave the country illegally onboard some
merchant vessels.
“From the foregoing, the patrol team deployed by NNS
Delta arrested the captain of a merchant vessel, one Mr Solomon Perebo,
for his alleged involvement in pipeline vandalism. “Additionally, under
this period, 23 illegal refinery sites were raided by the Base’s patrol
teams mainly in Obodo, Ajosolo, Isaba and Olakpashe creeks in Warri
South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
“During the raid, about
396 metric tons of suspected illegally refined AGO and about 1,060
metric tons of suspected stolen crude oil were destroyed, three suspects
linked to the sites were also apprehended.”
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