Navy arrests 21, impounds two ships laden with stolen crude

The Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has arrested 21 suspects  over crude oil theft. Flag Officer Commanding, CNC, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Usman,  was reported Tuesday  to have said that  two vessels  loaded with crude oil worth N2.4bn were also   impounded at Agbami Oil Field and Ebi creeks, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area  of   Bayelsa State.

Sidi-Ali Usman,  who disclosed  that the two vessels were seized at different  locations added that the suspects were all Nigerians who do not have the permits for crude oil lifting.

He said that   the suspects could not tender relevant  documents from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for the required bunkering permit and  NNPC nomination  for crude oil lifting.

.He said the  Navy would step up surveillance activities in the waterways and creeks in the Niger Delta region

The two vessels were intercepted at different points in the Ebi Creeks around the Agbami Oil field during December and January.