Tag: Oil Theft

“Use external investigators to probe crude oil theft”, Kachikwu urges FG

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has been urged to involve external investigators to probe the menace of crude oil theft in the Niger-Delta region. Former Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 election, Dumebi Kachikwu, in a statement issued in Abuja, faulted the involvement of the Nigerian Navy in investigations into the criminal activities. Kachikwu, in the statement, said that the Navy cannot be a judge over an issue involving it. According to him, “The trend trailing the MT Praisel vessel, which was alleged to have been carrying…

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Navy to probe oil theft allegations, dismiss erring personnel – Chief of Naval Staff

Aminu Imam

The Nigerian Navy said it would investigate rather than gloss over allegations of military involvement in oil theft, saying any personnel found culpable would be dismissed and prosecuted. The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, said this while fielding questions from newsmen in Port Harcourt on Thursday evening, after a two-day tour of naval formations and facilities in Rivers State. Some of the places he visited were the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Bonny Island, Nigerian Navy Hydrographic School, Borikiri, Nigerian Naval Shipyard, Port Harcourt, Nigerian Navy Medical Centre,…

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Delta: Security agency intercept vessel carrying suspected stolen crude

Aminu Imam

A vessel allegedly carrying crude oil, suspected to have been stolen, has been intercepted in the Koko area of Delta State by the Tanita Security Services. The interception happened on Wednesday, while the 1, 117-ton vessel carrying about 8,100 barrels of crude, was being escorted by some naval officers. Tanita Security outfit is a private security company owned by Government Ekpemupolo, popularly called Tompolo, an ex-Niger Delta agitator who recently got a contract from the Federal Government to protect oil pipelines. Operatives of the Tanita Security say the vessel, tagged:…

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Security operatives set ablaze seized crude oil tanker with stolen oil

Aminu Imam

Security Operatives of the Joint Task Force, ‘Operation Delta Safe’, in collaboration with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, have set ablaze an intercepted vessel carrying barrels of stolen crude oil in the Escravos area of Delta State. The vessel, which was set ablaze by a military helicopter, is allegedly owned by a Nigerian registered company, was heading to Cameroon with the cargo on board when it was apprehended at an offshore location with the captain and crew members on board. According to the Executive Director of Operations and Technical at…

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NNPCL intercepts offshore vessel owned by Nigerian businessman, Henry Coker with stolen crude oil

Aminu Imam

Following the receipt of credible intelligence, a private security contractor engaged by NNPC Ltd., Messrs. Tantita Security Services, intercepted a suspicious vessel with a cargo of crude oil on board on July 7, 2023. The ship and its stolen merchandise, bound for Cameroon, were seized by a private security contractor off the Nigerian coast on Friday. The Vessel, MT TURA II (IMO number: 6620462), owned by a Nigerian registered company, Holab Maritime Services Ltd., with Registration No. RC813311, was heading to Cameroon with the cargo on board when it was…

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Maritime Crimes: New Naval Chief, Ogalla vows to end oil theft, illegal refining

Aminu Imam

The new Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, yesterday assumed office as the 22nd indigenous Naval Chief and vowed to curb crude oil theft and illegal refining activities. Recall that Ogalla took over the leadership of the Navy from Vice-Admiral Awwal Gambo, who had been in command since January 2021. In his remarks, the new Naval said the task ahead was still challenging, saying the nation had continually faced significant threats such as crude oil theft, prevalence of illegal refineries, reported and unregulated fishing, piracy, sea…

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Oil Theft: HURIWA asks Tinubu to set up independent probe panel

Aminu Imam

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has called on President Bola Tinubu on Saturday to form an independent panel to investigate oil bunkering and related crimes in Nigeria, particularly from 2015 to the present. HURIWA, in a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the government should not spare the culprits identified at the end of the investigation, but rather name and shame them and severely sanction them. The group’s call comes just hours after a prominent Niger Delta leader, Mujahid Asari Dokubo,…

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‘Military, Navy responsible for oil theft in Nigeria’ – Asari Dokubo

Aminu Imam

Former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, yesterday, said over 99 percent of oil theft in the country is carried out by the Army and Navy. Dokubo also alleged that the people perpetuating oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region are powerful cabals most times operating from Abuja with the entitlement mentality Speaking to State House correspondents after meeting behind closed doors with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Dokubo said that the reason behind his visit was to give words of encouragement to the President for his actions…

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“I won’t tolerate oil theft” – Tinubu tells Security Chiefs

Aminu Imam

President Bola Tinubu has instructed the nation’s Security Chiefs to deal with oil theft, saying he won’t tolerate the menace. He gave the charge to the Security Chiefs yesterday, in his first official engagement with the Heads of the nation’s security and intelligence agencies since he assumed office on Monday. National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, disclosed this to State House correspondents after a meeting between the President and Security Chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Monguno said the President emphasised the need for coordinated efforts to combat terrorism, insurgency,…

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Stakeholders seek stiffer penalties for crude oil thieves

Aminu Imam

Stakeholders at a one-day meeting to discuss crude oil/products stealing in the country have lamented the economic impact, hence have made a call for stiffer penalties for culprits. The One-Day Stakeholders Conference on Oil Theft/Losses in Abuja, on Tuesday, was organised by Chairman of the Panel and Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme PAP Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu. Speaking as a Special Guest, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo stressed that so grievous a crime cannot simply be a subject of summitry;  but that“people must do their jobs and if they are unable to…

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