The Navy Ship BEECROFT of the Nigerian Navy has said it arrested nine foreign nationals with two boats containing over 25,000 liters of stolen petrol around Nigeria-Benin border in Lagos State.

The Commander of the Nigeria Navy Ship, Commodore Ibrahim Shettima, told newsmen in Lagos that the arrests were made between May 10 and 12.

Shettima said: “On May 12 at about 18:00hrs, a naval boat on routine patrol along Nigeria Benin Republic border intercepted 2 boats conveying a total of 85 x 250 Liter drums and another 150 X 25 Liter plastic cans suspected to be containing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

“This is believed to have been stolen from NNPC pipeline laid on the Atlas Cove Island. As at the time of the intercept, the 2 boats had a total of 9 crew members comprising of one Ghanaian and eight Beninoise.

“Investigation into the matter is ongoing with the view to unraveling their local collaborators and accordingly, the vehicles and exhibits are in own custody and would be handed over to prosecuting agencies.”

According to Shettima, naval men also on May 10 discovered two trucks containing 200 empty jerrycans and five trucks with 70 empty jerrycans at Akaraba and Abule Glass areas on Atlas Cove Island.

“Although, no suspects were found at the scene, it is believed that the empty plastic cans were prepared for usage in storing illegally siphoned PMS from the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooporation (NNPC) pipelines,” he said.

Shettima said the Atlas Cove Island accommodated a NNPC storage facility, which was operated and managed by the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, a subsidiary of NNPC.

He said: “The facility is designed as a transit depot to supply refined product to other NNPC depots at Mosimi, Ore, Ibadan and Shagamu areas.

“Over time, the facility is being threatened by activities of pipeline vandals and in a strive to checkmate this ugly trend, the base heightened patrols on the island and its waterfront.”

He said the act of illegally trading in petroleum product around the Atlas Cove Island was unfortunate, adding that most of the illegalities were perpetuated with the collaboration and assistance of some unpatriotic Nigerians.

Shettima said: “NNS BEECROFT is therefore committed to assisting NNPC deal with the issue of petroleum product theft.

“The navy therefore uses this medium to warn oil thieves and other criminal elements particularly in our maritime environment to desist from these nefarious activities and pursue lawful means of livelihood.”