Navy impounds seveal thousand litres of stolen crude oil

The Nigerian Navy has seized a barge conveying 120,000 litres of crude oil believed to have been stolen from facilities in Rivers State.

The Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral James Oluwole, said on Thursday that the barge was intercepted in the early hours of Wednesday in Elem Kalabari in Okrika Local Government Area.

Oluwole, who disclosed this while inspecting the barge in Okrika, said the barge was intercepted by troops stationed at the naval maritime security station in the area.

He said, “Naval troops manning our maritime security stations (house boat) on Wednesday around 2am intercepted and impounded a metallic barge laden with about 120,000 litres of crude oil suspected to be stolen.

“Troops were unable to arrest crew members on board the barge as they fled the scene on sighting advancing naval gunboats.

“This strategy and other security measures recently put in place curtailed spate of attacks on oil and gas installations, piracy and other criminality on our maritime environment.”

 Source PUNCH.