Ten Arrested As Navy Seizes Crude Oil-Laden Ship

Men of the Nigerian Navy Jubilee 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 NNS Jubilee in Ikot Abasi, Commodore Madumom Ide, disclosed this to journalists at Ibaka in the Mbo Local Government Area of the state on Friday, noting that the vessel impounded was called Motor Tanker Queen Hansal. He, however, added that the suspects and vessel were arrested on December 28, 2023.

Ide 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.”

He 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. He said the suspects, crude oil, and the vessel would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, for further investigation and prosecution.

 (PUNCH)