Ghana arrests Nigerian stealing oil tanker

The Ghanaian authorities have arrested an oil tanker- MV Madina allegedly conveying stolen crude oil from Nigeria, the Ghana Navy has said.

MV Madina was detained on Thursday at the Salt Pond Offshore Producing Company Limited (SPOCL), as it attempted to discharge hijacked crude oil from Nigeria into another vessel at the SPOCL. The Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, Colonel M’Bawine Atintande told journalists that guards have been deplored to secure the vessels at the oil fields.

The force image maker disclosed that the arrested ship would be entrusted to the ports authorities and the perpetrators shall face the wrath of the law.

MV Madina was hijacked while the vessel was in the process of lifting crude oil from a marginal oil producing field in Nigeria into a larger vessel, MV North Wind Grace. The captain and his crew absconded with the vessel.

Consequently, the owners of the vessel alerted the Benin and Ghana security and subsequently traced the ship to Ghana.

The Chief Executive Officer of Salt Pond Offshore Producing Company limited (SPOCL), Mr. Quincy Sintim Aboagye confirmed the incidence.

According to him, he received information about the hijacked crude from the owners of MV Madina and promptly swung into action in order to foil the escape of the ship and the crew on board.

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JTF arrests 7 crude oil thieves, confiscates equipment

The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta codenamed Operation Pulo Shield has arrested seven suspected crude oil thieves in Bayelsa State.

The suspects were nabbed by men of the Joint Task Force on routine patrol of the creeks of Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.

Spokesman of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col Timothy Antigha, who disclosed this in Yenagoa, said the suspects were arrested at Onyeregbene, Lasugbene and Igbomaturu communities.

His words, “in line with its mandate to eradicate the menace of crude oil theft, illegal refining of petroleum products and illegal oil bunkering, the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield have arrested 7 suspected pipeline vandals in Onyeregbene, Lasugbene and Igbomaturu communities, in Southern Ijaw Local Government of Bayelsa.

“The arrests were effected during a routine patrol on 28 January 2012.”

He gave the names of the suspects as Emmanuel Prophet, Patrick Enoch, Douglas Dickson, Goodluck Ala, Foetus Job, Plain Mazellen and Suwoton Aladege..

Items recovered from the suspects, he said, include a generator set, pumping machine, 8hp Outboard engine, a pumping valve, a speed boat, and N42, 010,00 among other personal effect.

He added, “the items the suspects were found with are the usual used in vandalising pipelines before crude oil is siphoned.

“In the light of the negative effect of pipeline vandalism on the economy and environment, the JTF implores the general public to continue to cooperate with the agency by promptly reporting suspicious elements in their midst to facilitate the close monitoring of such individuals to forestall the perpetration of crimes.”

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