The Nigerian
Navy, Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos, has arrested three members of the
Oodua People’s |Congress (OPC) and 14 others for allegedly hijacking a vessel
conveying crude oil on the Nigerian sea from Ondo to Lagos state.
The OPC
members, Peter Abayomi, Olabameru Owolemi and Segun Ikudenbu- who were hired from
Igbokoda, Ondo State to carry out the operation, led the hijackers. The 14
hijackers are crew members of the
vessel.
According to
the naval authorities, two pump-action rifles with other ammunition were
recovered from the gang after their arrest.
The suspects
were apprehended about 6: am on Tuesday with the vessel, LONG ISLAND, near the
Lagos Anchorage Point, Apapa.
Abayomi, 23,
said he was promised N50, 000 by an oil dealer in Ondo State if he and others could
successfully secured the stolen vessel and take it to the agreed destination in
Rivers State. Abayomi said the name of the dealer is Ogo Obebe.
Daniel
Lebile, 55, Captain of the Vessel, said he and his crew members were ordered by
the security men at gunpoint to pilot the ship. He added that they had no
option than to obey.
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 on-going on
the matter.
His words: “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. The vessel was successfully
intercepted and the suspects on board all arrested. When investigations are
concluded, they’ll be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies. We
want the public to always feed us with information, so that we can arrest more
criminally minded people.”
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