Navy foil vandals attempt to export 35,000 litres siphoned petrol

Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos, have foiled an attempt by vandals to escape with 35,000 litres of petroleum product siphoned from the Atlas Cove.

Vandals stormed the Atlas Cove jetty which is a major petroleum product supply and distribution, to other Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation depots within the western part of the country at the wee hours. They channeled the flow into to jerrycans that were in a wooden Cotonou boat. However, on their way out, a team of NNS Beecroft personnel on patrol sighted them, thereby forcing them to escape in a smaller outboard engine boat, abandoning the boat with the siphoned products. Briefing journalists on the arrest, the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Rear Admiral Okon Eyo, disclosed that 1400 (25 litres) jerricans filled with the siphoned product were recovered inside the boat.

Eyo, who was represented by the Executive Officer, NNS Beecroft, Captain Hassan Dogara, said the arrest was made at Akaraba water side, following intelligence report on activities of the vandals. He said, “The boat has 1400 jerry cans of 25 litres of suspected PMS, 27 empty drums and 5 by 75 HP outboard engines. The estimated volume of this product is about 35, 000 litres and it is valued at N5, 075,000 million while the boat and outboard engines are valued at N15 million. “It is very important to state that the Atlas Cove is very strategic to the country for its refined reception of petroleum product and distribution to other NNPC depots in Ore, Shagamu, Ibadan, and Mosimi areas within the Western part of the country. Consequently, the facility has become very attractive to vandals who go there to steal the product and pirates alike. “This latest arrest represents a very important achievement of our constitutional mandate and a set back to the logistic requirements of the criminals. The Base will continue to dominate the nation’s waterways in order to prevent the theft of our commonwealth”. He informed that the recovered products and boat would be handed over to the relevant agency for further investigation, adding that the Navy would always be a step ahead of vandals and sea robber

ReadEyo, who was represented by the Executive Officer, NNS Beecroft, Captain Hassan Dogara, said the arrest was made at Akaraba water side, following intelligence report on activities of the vandals. He said, “The boat has 1400 jerry cans of 25 litres of suspected PMS, 27 empty drums and 5 by 75 HP outboard engines. The estimated volume of this product is about 35, 000 litres and it is valued at N5, 075,000 million while the boat and outboard engines are valued at N15 million. “It is very important to state that the Atlas Cove is very strategic to the country for its refined reception of petroleum product and distribution to other NNPC depots in Ore, Shagamu, Ibadan, and Mosimi areas within the Western part of the country. Consequently, the facility has become very attractive to vandals who go there to steal the product and pirates alike. “This latest arrest represents a very important achievement of our constitutional mandate and a set back to the logistic requirements of the criminals. The Base will continue to dominate the nation’s waterways in order to prevent the theft of our commonwealth”. He informed that the recovered products and boat would be handed over to the relevant agency for further investigation, adding that the Navy would always be a step ahead of vandals and sea robber