The Nigeria Police Force said it had arrested 10 suspected crew members of two vessels, Ellen and MB Opuda, with 18 trucks load of diesel suspected to be illegally refined.
The suspects are Tumbiri Ezekiel, Thomas Azamosa, Godwill Offeh, Alfred Iwanefun and Emmanuel Uyoi.
Others included, Godwin Tabiti, Omokete Enengite, Victor Onyenike, Suleiman Ahmadu and William Okitikpo.
The Force Spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Don Awunah, presented the suspects to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.
Awunah said that the suspects were trailed and arrested on November 3 at Satomen’s Jetty at Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos state, following a sustained surveillance by the Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal bunkering.
He said that the suspects had discharged the product into 18 trucks when they were promptly arrested and taken into custody by the police.
In a related development, Awunah said that five suspected pipeline vandals were also arrested at an illegal refinery with two trucks loaded with 20,000 litres of diesel each at Adogu village of Ajaokuta, Kogi.
The suspects are, Harrison Chinedu,40, Mohammed Abdulkadir, 39, Idris Bawa, 28, Emmanuel Akighir, 39 and Sulieman Musa,22.
He said that the suspects were arrested by the Task Force on Petroleum and illegal bunkering after a tip off.
The spokesman said the suspects had confessed to committing the crime.
He said that investigation into the case was being intensified to arrest other members of the group who were at large.
He said, “The suspects will be promptly arraigned in court on completion of thorough investigation.”
The police also arrested three suspects in Abia and Kaduna states with one truck loaded with 33,000 litres of cooked diesel.
The suspects are, Amechi Aduma,47, owner of the product, Ezechi Peter, 17, and Mamud Ibrahim, 30, who was arrested in Kaduna near NNPC depot with a truck loaded with 25,000 litres of diesel.
Awunah said that the constant destruction of oil and gas infrastructure was a source of concern to the police.
He said to halt the trend, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, had reorganised and empowered the anti-pipline vandalism unit of the force.
Awunah said the I-G was committed to a safe and secure Nigeria.
He said that the I-G commended the governors and government of Imo, Kaduna, Bayelsa and Delta states for their support to the Nigeria Police Force.
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