The Nigerian Navy, Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos, has arrested 17 suspects for allegedly hijacking a vessel believed to be conveying crude oil from Ondo State to Lagos.
PUNCH report that the suspects ─ three security men and 14 crew members ─ were apprehended at about 6am on Tuesday with the vessel, marked Long Island, near the Lagos Anchorage Point, Apapa.
Our correspondent gathered that the security men, who led the hijackers, were hired from Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The three of them ─ Peter Abayomi, Olabameru Owolemi and Segun Ikudenbu ─ confessed that they were also members of a vigilance group in Ondo State.
According to the naval authorities, two pump-action rifles with ammunition were recovered from the gang after their arrest.
23-year-old Abayomi said he was promised N50,000 by an oil dealer if he and others successfully escorted the stolen vessel to its destination ─ Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Abayomi named the dealer as one Mr. Ogo Obebe from Ondo State.
He said, “I am actually a local vigilance member in Igbokoda. I was invited by Mr. Ogo Obebe to work with others to escort the vessel. We were initially in a boat. When our boat caught up with the vessel, they transferred us on board in Ondo.
“He added that if I came with them to Lagos, he would pay me N50,000. I therefore agreed. He was the one who supplied us with the guns. I did not know it was a hijacked vessel.”
Olabameru, also from Ondo State, said he used to work as a welder in Warri, Delta State, before he came to Ondo to join the security men to escort the stolen vessel.
He said, “I am a welder in Warri. The two of them called me that there was some work to do in Ondo. When I arrived, they lured me to come along.”
Captain of the arrested crew members, 55-year-old Daniel Lebile, said he and his crew members were ordered by the security men at gunpoint to sail the ship. He added that they had no option than to comply.
He said, “My crew members and I were kidnapped by the three men. We were forced to come after the ship was hijacked. We were being watched at gunpoint, so we had no option. That was on Saturday afternoon.
“I am a seaman by profession. I suspect the men cleaned off the name of the vessel. The men kidnapped us to drive a stolen vessel.”
The Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade, said the naval authorities had sent the recovered product to the Department of Petroleum resources for examination, adding that investigations were still ongoing on the matter.
He said, “Going by efforts to make the Nigerian waters safe for only legitimate businesses, we received intelligence report that an offshore service was conveying products suspected to be stolen crude oil with armed hijackers.
“So, the vessel was successfully intercepted and the suspects on board arrested. When investigations are concluded, they will be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies. We want the public to always feed us with information to be able to arrest more criminally-minded people.”
SOURCE: Punch.
No comments:
Post a Comment