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Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Umar Chugali, has explained why the Nigerian Navy will continue to burn vessels intercepted with stolen crude oil.
On July 11, 2023, the Navy set ablaze a Cameroon-bound vessel, MT TURA II, laden with 150 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil.
The burning of the vessel was questioned by some Nigerians including members of the House of Representatives.
But during a familiarisation tour of naval units under his mandate at the Navy Base, Warri, Delta State on Monday, July 25, Chugali explained that the burning of intercepted vessels with stolen crude oil was the Navy’s standard operating procedure.
“So far, every naval personnel, unit and establishment is operating under that SOP, which, for now, is very effective until any other means is devised. We are operating by SOP and also within extant regulations,” Chugali said.
“Burning intercepted vessels with stolen crude has been discovered, for now, as the immediate response to ensure that those illegalities on the maritime domain do not exist. Maybe, later it could be reviewed.”
This is not the first time the Nigerian Navy has set ablaze vessels with stolen crude oil.
In October 2022, officers of the Nigerian Navy in Delta State destroyed an illegal oil bunkering vessel arrested with stolen crude oil aboard Niger Delta creeks.
The Navy arrestee seven-member crew in board on the creeks of Escravos, whilst crude oil was being loaded illegally into the ship.
About 600 to 650 cubic metres of illegally lifted crude oil in five compartments was said to be on board the vessel.
