This is coming barely six days after the Joint Task Force codenamed Operation Pulo Shield arrested
an Assistant Superintendent of Police in Calabar for alleged
involvement in the operations of an illegal oil depot where over 8,000
drums of fuel and diesel were seized.
Parading the eight suspects last Friday, the Commanding Officer of Nigerian Navy Ship Victory in Calabar, Commodore Kingdom Itoko, said they were caught with the products between Igbani station and Parrot island.
The Navy, he said, would not relent in ridding the
Eastern maritime environment of criminal elements, stressing that
unauthorised bunkering was an illegal business in the country.
He said, “I want to tell Nigerians, especially those
living in Cross River State that we are not resting on our oars in the
fight against illegal bunkering and oil theft. On of December 21 about
6pm my patrol team accosted a Cotonou boat carrying over 220 drums of
illegally produced AGO.
“The culprits arrested will be interrogated and be handed over to Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission. Our fight against bunkering is intensified even
during this festive period; we are not relaxing at all. Nigerians should
be assured that the waterways are safe and they can go about their
normal businesses.”
The naval chief, who called for better employment opportunities and social welfare schemes for youths, noted that poverty was at the root of these illicit business dealings.
He added, “I think employment should be encouraged,
social welfare services should be provided for Nigerians because poverty
is what leads them to such crimes.”
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