Oil theft: Navy arrests eight vessels laden with diesel in Rivers… 

The Military Joint Task force of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) has arrested eight barges, conveying over 100,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), popularly called diesel, in Rivers State.

The Commander, Joint Task force, South-South, OPDS, Olusegun Ferreira, told newsmen at the creek of Bonny, that the barges were arrested by the OPDS team in conjunction with some maritime units in the Bonny area.

Ferreira, who was represented by the Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Adedokun Siyanbade, said the operation was in line with the team’s mandate to eradicate crude oil theft and criminality in the Niger Delta region.

He advised the public, especially youths, to desist from illegal oil bunkering and other acts of criminality, warning that anyone caught will be made to face the law.

“It is still a warning for all those involved in illegal activities and we are advising them to look for legitimate businesses to do.

“OPDS and other Security agencies within the joint operation areas will not relent in their efforts at stopping crude oil theft within the joint operations area,” he added.

Ferreira said further investigation would be carried out on the seized products, assuring that the issue would be handled in line with the mandate given to them by the government.