By EHIGIMETOR IGBAUGBA

The Nigerian Navy has expressed concern over the delay in the prosecution of crude oil theft suspects noting that it has placed a huge burden on its activities.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, disclosed this during the parade of 12 crew members arrested on board of a vessel laden with 650 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil in Calabar on Tuesday.

While calling for speedy discharge of cases involving crude oil theft, Okehie noted that the delay had caused the Naval a lot in terms of administration and taking care of ceased vessels.

He noted that the ENC had no fewer than four ceased vessels in its possession dating back to 2022.

“We have vessels arrested in 2022 and four years after, we are still in court; we have three other vessels on the other side.

“The prolonged process in addressing the prosecution of these vessels is a burden on us.

“It takes a lot in terms of administration and taking care of these vessels. We will appreciate speedy dispensation of cases involving crude oil theft,” he appealed.

The FOC vowed that the fight against crude oil theft would continue unabated in spite of these seeming challenges.

He pointed out that those involved in the activities of crude oil theft were not just economic saboteurs, but waging war against the country.

Okehie described it as an “organized crime of ecosystem with international collaborators”.

According to him, you can see this arrested vessel with 650 metric tonnes of crude with 12 crew members who are all Nigerians but a foreign flagship.

“So you can see that international collaboration is here. Yes, I can tell you that this ship is from a different country, flagged in Sao Tome and Principe with Nigerians on board.

“So, you can understand the influence, the reach of criminal activities like crude oil theft.

“But I want to assure you that the Chief of Naval Staff has given us all the resources and the guidelines to achieve and reduce, in fact, stop totally the issue of crude oil theft in Nigeria,” he said. (NAN)

•12 crew members arrested on board of a vessel laden with 650 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil paraded by Navy in Calabar on Tuesday.

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