By Adedapo Adesanya
The Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), has arrested an MV Mother Mary vessel with 300,000 litres of illegally refined automotive gas oil known as diesel in Rivers state.
OPDS seized the vessel at the Federal Ocean Terminal in Onne, Eleme Council Area of Rivers on the Bonny River, according to the Component Commander OPDS, Commodore John Siyanbade, who represented the OPDS Commander, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira.
He disclosed that the vessel was arrested on October 29, 2023, along with two of its crew members.
“The vessel which was arrested by teams from Headquarters Operation OPDS was leaving with over 300,000 litres of illegally refined products suspected to be AGO and with two suspects onboard at the time of arrest.
“The product was illegally sourced and the vessel was used as storage for this illegal product,“ Commandant Siyanbade said.
He also indicated that before Sunday’s seizure, OPDS had impounded two vessels, MV Cecilia and MV Ufuoma, which were being used for illegal activities.
“Vessels like this are being used as storage tanks for crude brought from illegal refining sites and other vessels and tankers take from them to go and sell to the public.
“In recent times it has been found that some well-known companies and organisations have patronised these markets and this seems to be the biggest market for those illegally refining crude.
“OPDS will continue to handle illegal refining sites but going forward more effort will be put into the logistic chain cut-off,” he added.
The Commander also stated that the two arrested suspects will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for possible prosecution while warning all those who are involved in any form of illegality to stop immediately or the long arm of the law will catch up with them.
Crude oil theft is a perennial problem in Nigeria — one of Africa’s largest producers. The illegal refining of crude, known as “oil bunkering,” is rampant in oil-rich regions.
Nigeria is dependent on crude oil for more than 80 per cent of its national revenue and the theft of this mainstay is detrimental to Nigeria’s economy.
Nigerian authorities have been trying to address the problem without much success.
Last year, Nigeria awarded a pipeline surveillance contract to former militant Mr Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, and uncovered many large sites where oil was being siphoned.
However, experts say that unless the deeper problem of corruption is solved or authorities begin to prosecute offenders, oil theft will continue to be a problem in Nigeria.
Aduragbemi Omiyale