The Nigerian Navy on Sunday in Yenagoa announced that it has impounded an oil vessel with a 10-member crew, including a Cameroonian national over alleged oil theft.
A statement by the Central Naval Command said the captain of the vessel could not tender relevant documents when he was apprehended.
The vessel was impounded offshore Brass River in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, according to the statement signed by the Command’s Operation Officer, Commodore E.O Enemor.
It said that the crew members were arrested on Sept. 6 aboard a vessel identified as MT Pauline which was laden with loaded over 360,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) suspected to have been stolen.
“The vessel lacked the Nigerian Ports Authority bunkering permit, the certificate of registration with the Joint Military Task Force and the approval for the movement of petroleum products by the Naval Headquarters.
“On Sept. 6 at about 8.00 am, a Naval patrol team from the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Formoso, intercepted and impounded MT Pauline offshore Brass Rivers in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State loaded with over 360,000 litres of diesel.
“Ten crew members made up of 9 Nigerians and a Cameroonian were arrested,” it said.
The command, however, said investigations had begun into the source of the suspected stolen petroleum product.
It said the arrest and others recorded in the past were a clear indication of the determination of the navy to check oil theft, illegal bunkering and other illegal activities in the area.
