Mkpoikana Udoma
The Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Formoso, Capt. Muritala Rogo, said MFT Trade Wind was arrested on February 7th, 2024, around Brass offshore after allegedly receiving about 40,000 litres of illegally refined AGO around Fish Town River on February 5th 204.
Rogo said the vessel subsequently supplied to other vessels at sea, and upon arrest, samples were collected from the product onboard, tested and confirmed to be illegally refined AGO.
The Commanding Officer said it was an act of economic sabotage which would not be tolerated by the Nigerian Navy and would not relent in its effort towards policing and enforcement of all maritime laws to get rid of crude oil theft, illegal bunkering activities and other crimes in the Nigerian maritime domain.
Rogo, who was represented by the Base Operations Officer, Leut. Commander. Haruna Ranga, at the handing-over event, advised all fishing trawlers to obtain bunkering approval from appropriate Naval authorities and purchase their products from approved sources.
He said that the Federal Department of Fisheries, must through the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association warn all fishing trawlers to desist from buying illegally refined AGO from the creeks and also stop using fishing trawlers to aid illegalities at sea.
“Operation Delta Sanity, charged under the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral S.J Bura is determined to end the menace of crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and criminality within the Nigeria waters.
“The Nigerian Navy under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, is determined to ensure that Nigerian maritime domain remains secured and safe for all legitimate businesses to thrive towards building a stronger nation,” he said.