Eight accused oil thieves in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, are the subject of an investigation launched by agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Port Harcourt Zonal Command.
This was revealed on Thursday in a statement posted on the EFCC’s official X handle.
The statement states that the inquiry comes after the oil thieves were turned over to the EFCC on Wednesday, January 10 by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Akiama Road, Bonny Island, Port Harcourt.
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The EFCC has been tasked with conducting additional investigation and potential prosecution with the accused oil thieves, according to Lieutenant Commander G.Y. Gwaza, the Naval Hand-Over Officer.
“The Navy reports that on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, during an operation, the vessel, MV Cabrini, and her eight crew members were arrested,” the statement stated. Along Bonny Channel, they were apprehended in possession of an undisclosed quantity of illegally obtained automotive gas oil.
“Tyson Saidi, Emmanuel Memedo, Sunday Okenwa, Sanusi Adeola, Kessen Friday, Miebaka Kienka, and Emmanuel Adewole are the suspects.”
The statement further stated that Itoro Levi, an EFCC official, who received the suspects, gave the Navy the assurance that careful and competent investigations would be conducted.
According to The PUNCH, security services are intensifying their efforts to combat oil theft in the nation as a result of President Bola Tinubu’s June 2023 ultimatum to the service chiefs.
In 2023, the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division claimed to have destroyed 233 illicit refineries in the Niger Delta and to have detained 112 individuals.
On Wednesday, the Niger Delta Development Commission made a request to the traditional leaders of the oil-rich area to assist the federal government in combating oil theft.
Additionally, it requested that the monarchs work with law enforcement to stop pipeline damage.