Navy seizes 501 drums of oil, arrest 8 suspects for bunkering in A/Ibom

Isaac Job, Uyo

The navy in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has seized 501 drums of illegal Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) worth about N35 million from eight suspects.

The navy said the consignment and the suspects were arrested based on intelligence reports in the early hours of April 5 as they were conveying the boat loaded with AGO brought in from Oyorokoto in Rivers State along the Calabar channel leading to Oron River with three Yamaha outboard engines.

Parading the suspects yesterday in Ibaka during the hand-over of the suspects, the drums of AGO, wooden boat and outboard engines to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), acting Commanding Officer of the naval base, Capt. Reginald Adoki said from their findings, the products in the boat are suspected to be illegally refined AGO (diesel).

He said the activity of the suspects show a clear case of economic sabotage of which the navy is committed to rid the area of such illegal activities, adding that the handover of the suspects to the EFCC is a sign of their confidence in the commission.

“From findings, the products in the boat are suspected to be illegally refined diesel. The 501 drums of this diesel is about 300 litres sized drum which gives you about 150,000 litres which estimated market value will be put at about N25 – N35 million.

“We have strong evidence that there was a case of converging illegally refined diesel which have definitely been from broken pipes by way of crude oil theft because you need crude oil to refined to be able to get the illegal diesel. This is a clear case of economic sabotage,” he stated.

Receiving the drums of seized products, the suspects and other items from the navy, the Uyo Zonal Head of the EFCC, Mr. Abdukarim Chukkoh represented by Mr. Alex Ebbah, chief superintendent of police, the EFCC said “I want to sincerely on behalf of the EFCC and my chairman thank the navy for this noble job.

“We really assure you we will do our best to ensure that for every crime of this nature, the suspects are brought to book and we will also give you feedback,” he noted.

One of the suspects, Victor Umana from Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, said the urge to better his lot financially led him into the crime.

He said he used to load fish and crayfish from the beachside for a pittance, adding that he was offered N15, 000 to bring in the diesel from Rivers State and was contracted to do the job through a telephone call.