Navy Seizes 304 (50kg) Polythene Bags Of Crude Oil, Hand Over Suspects, Exhibits To NSCDC in Kogi.
Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.
The Nigeria Navy NNS Lugard based in Lokoja has been commended for assisting other security agencies in the fight against crime as it apprehended two persons who were in possession of 304 polythene bags containing crude oil, weighing 50 kg each, suspected to be crude oil vandals and thieves.
Commandant of the Kogi state command Nigeri Security and Civil Defence Corsp ( NSCDC), Dr Peter Maigari, who gave the commendation on Monday while recieving the suspects and exhibits at NNS Lugard headquarters, warned criminals of shades and operations to stay clear of Kogi state or be ready to face their waterloo.
Maigari who was highly elated by the gallantry of the Navy for the arrest of the suspects , disclosed that his command had in the last two months arrested no fewer than four articulated trailers laden with bags of unauthorised petroleum products.
He noted that the existing synergy between the security agencies in the state has made it impossible for criminals to succeed in their nefarious acts stressing that the upsurge in the arrest of high wired criminals who would want to use the state as their transit point was made possible by the cooperation.
“There is robust synergy amongst the security agencies in the state. This arrest is an indication that a robust cooperation exist among us.
“With the cooperation, criminals will have good runs for their money. In my candid advise they should avoid kogi state. There would be no hiding place for them as we are ahead of their strategies. Whatever strategy they develop we will get them.” He warns.
He disclosed that the four trailers laden with the same illicit petroleum products some times ago have been forfeited to the federal government, adding that the command has secured partial forfeiture order for the trailers while the products have been forfeited to the federal Government and called on the other sister agencies and individuals to assist with information that will lead to the arrest of the masterminds.
While handing over the suspects to the commandant, the commander of the Nigeria Navy ship Lugard, Commodore Clement Atebi said the eagle eyes of his men on patrol at the maritime domain in the state arrested the two suspects with the large consignment of the illicit petroleum products.
He said with the directive from the Chief of Naval staff on zero tolerance for crimes on maritime environment, advise predators to pack their luggage from the state or be ready to meet superior fire power.
Commodore Atebi disclosed that the wooden boat laden with 304 polythene bags of black oil and crude oil were arrested along Itobe water ways.
While fielding questions from Journalists , the suspects Adamu Muhammed 25, from Idah LGA of kogi state and Prince Kelechikwu Emersim 20, from Anambra state said they were only contracted to offload the consignment at Lokoja.
He denied knowing the content of the consignment, adding that the boat owner, one Dansabe on sensing that the game was up bolted away leaving them in the claws of the law.
Mohammed while narrating his ordeal amidst sobbing, said it was poverty and inability to pay for his WAEC fees that took him to port Harcourt where he met Kelechi , a wheel barrow pusher who later introduced him to the boat owner.
He regretted his action for accepting to board an engine boat from Port Harcourt to Lokoja in a boat that he didn’t know of the content, pleading for the law to have mercy on him.
Meanwhile, the commandant has assured of prosecuting the culprits after diligent investigation.
