JTF amphibious forces escort shipping in a Suncraft(Singapore) gunboat with three 12.7mm weapon stations..fore, aft and starboard
APA
2 January, 2013
The Commander of the 2 Brigade and Sector Two of JTF,represented by Major Michael Etete, the 2 Brigade Army Public
Relations Officer, paraded nine suspected crew members of the vessel before journalists in Bonny on Tuesday.
Etete said that the Nigeria-registered vessel was arrested while illegally tapping crude oil from a pipeline. He said that the nine crew members, who were arrested during a raid, were Nigerians. “Following military intelligence report on Saturday,troops of Sector 2 deployed in Bonny, arrested a vessel registered illegally tapping crude oil from a pipeline. “At the time of the arrest, the vessel had loaded about 1,000 tonnes of stolen crude oil and nine crew members on board the vessel were also arrested.
“Further investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be handed over to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps
for prosecution. “JTF restates its commitment toward stamping out oil theft,oil bunkering and other criminal
activities within its area of responsibility in line with its mandate,” he said.
Etete called on the public and organisations to support and provide useful information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of oil thieves in
2013.
