In an effort to stem the tide
of oil theft in the  coastal areas in the Nigerian Delta Region, the NNS Pathfinder Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has handed over six oil thieves  arrested by the command to the Nigerian police for further investigation and prosecution.
Parading the suspects before journalists at the NNS Pathfinder Naval Base Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt Wednesday,  the Commander NNS Pathfinder,  D.E Effedua, who spoke through the Base information Officer, Lieutenant  Commander Abdulsalami Sani, said the syndicates were smashed at Mgbo-Odhia Creek opposite  Liquid Bulk Company at  Aker Base Rumuolumeni, on Saturday night. Lieutenant Commander Sani stated  that 33,000 litres capacity tanker truck with registration number GGE 934×5, 2 pumping machines, a long hose and 2 large wooden boats containing AGO were recovered from the gang.
He disclosed that the wooden boats were destroyed at the scene of the crime, adding that the suspects were being handed over to the police for  further investigation and prosecution.
The base information officer stated that the effort was in continuation with the  base’s drive to stop untoward activities in the Niger Delta area as well as in keeping with the mission and vision of the Chief of the Naval  Staff, Vice Admiral A.J. Ezoba, against sanitizing the waterways across the country.
Sani used the opportunity to re-emphasise the zero tolerance by the Nigerian Navy in the fight against crude oil theft and other criminal activities in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Later in an interview with journalists, three of the paraded suspects, Mr Soprila Harry, Wosoma and  Uche Nwoha agreed to have committed the crime, adding that they were deceived by the owner of the business ‘one bigman.’