Posted by By PHILIP NWOSU on
Barely six months after the conviction of two senior naval officers for alleged involvement in the disappearance of an illegal bunkering vessel, another top naval officer has cried out over moves by oil thieves to bribe them.
Barely six months after the conviction of two senior naval officers for alleged involvement in the disappearance of an illegal bunkering vessel, another top naval officer has cried out over moves by oil thieves to bribe them.
Indeed, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye said the bunkerers are putting him and his men under intense pressure and temptation to have their siezed vessel released.
'We are under pressure, Yes we are under pressure, but I have told my men to stay clear of their carrots, don't be tempted to look for cheap money that will land you into serious trouble," he added.
Admiral Adekeye, however, said the force was not relenting in its fight against sea robbers and oil thieves, insisting that anybody caught with stolen crude oil would be treated as a big thief.
The command told Daily Sun recently in Port Harcourt that the fight against illegal bunkerers and oil thieves is gathering momentum, but the Navy is on top of it.
The Flag Officer lamented that within the last six months, one of his men was killed by robbers, while several others have been injured, but added that this will not deter them from checkmating economic sabotuers in the Niger Delta area.
The Eastern Command is at the moment keeping some seized vessels and barges numbering over 50, including the controversial MT Jimoh, which disappeared same time with the notorious MT African Pride, but was later found and detained at the NNS Pathfinder.