Commodore Nanmar Lakan, Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH says the Command has arrested two persons for crude oil theft and seized a wooden boat laden with 12,000 litres of Automated Gas Oil (AGO).
Lakan disclosed this while parading the suspects at Okarki waterfront on Friday, saying the suspects were arrested at Okarki waterfront, in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Lakan explained that the arrest was made in line with the mandate of Operation Delta Sanity, which includes anti-crude oil theft, anti-pipeline vandalism, and anti-illegal refining sites.
“Working with intelligence gathering from the good citizens of this country, we received credible information that some people want to move illegally refined AGO, popularly known as diesel, from the Okarki River.
“We dispatched our men there, and they arrested two suspects. The quantity of the AGO is estimated to be 12,000 litres refined illegally”, he said.
He urged those involved in illegality to desist from such and look for a better way of livelihood, as such illegal business was harmful to the society, and the nation at large.
According to him, “the nation is losing a lot economically, so I advise them to stop, if not we are determined to rid the entire area of this illegal business”.
He appealed to members of the public and lawful citizens, to give relevant information to security agencies particularly the NNS SOROH to carry out its tasks.
The Commander said the suspects and the products would be handed over to the appropriate security agency because there was a standing procedure for handling such issues.
He expressed the commitment of the Navy to rid the waterways of criminals and urged those involved in illegal oil bunkering to desist from it or face the wrath of the law.
Speaking to newsmen, one of the suspects, Mr Clement Fimeya, said he was doing it to feed his four children because of lack of job opportunities.
He pleaded for forgiveness and promised never to indulge in such illegality if granted a pardon by the appropriate security agency.

Effective from July, and barring any change in decision, travellers from Port Harcourt to Okrika through the Marine Base will pay N800 instead of N1000 currently being paid.
Vice Chairman, Okrika Speed Boat Owners Association, Comrade Samuel Epeya, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The Tide at Okrika.
Epeya said the decision to reduce the fare from N1,000 to N800 was occasioned by current hardship in the country.
According to him, people travelling from Port Harcourt to Okrika will pay N800 effective from July, while those travelling from Abuloma to Okrika will pay N500 .
He said the reduction has become necessary to reduce the hardship occasioned by the removal of subsidy.
Epeya said the association will meet with fuel dealers in the area with the view to soliciting their support towards the success of the proposed fair reduction
He also said the drivers are operating on near zero accident level, but added the issue of piracy is still a source of concern.
The Vice Chairman, however, said drivers in the area are having difficulties meeting up with the amount for drivers licensing, stressing that some drivers are complaining of not being able to meet up with the payments even when the amount was reduced from N40,000 to N35,000.
He stressed the need for government to come to their aid by further reducing the amount.
Epeya also lamented the high cost of speed boat maintenance, stressing that even cost of securing lifebuoys for passengers is affecting their operations.
Reacting, a speedboat driver who spoke under condition of anonymity, said he and his colleagues will consider reduction if the price of fuel comes down.
“I don’t know how they are going to do it, but if petrol remain like this,we will not bring down the fare”, he said.

By: John Bibor

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has called for financial, administrative and political autonomy for local governments.
The NULGE national president, Ambali Olatunji, said in Lagos on Saturday that autonomy was important for Nigeria to grow its gross domestic product (GDP) more and curb insecurity.
Mr Olatunji spoke in an interview with journalists.
He said: “We must make local governments to be financially, administratively and politically autonomous.
“We must consider community policing so that there must be guarding at the community level.
“Our policing policy should not be reactionary, but pre-emptive to be able to address insecurity.
“Our opinion is that the local government must be the platform for policing evolution in Nigeria.”
The labour leader also called on the federal government to create a policy that would address unemployment at the local government level.
He called for the revival of the vocational skills acquisition department of local governments.
According to him, this will ensure that women and youths in the rural communities are trained and empowered.
“The vocational skills acquisition department across local governments has been erased systematically over time.
“This level of government should be given adequate attention to address the needs of those in the rural settings.
“It will go a long way to improve livelihoods and ensure a better Nigeria for everyone,” Mr Olatunji said.