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The Nigerian Navy has arrested seven oil thieves with three barges conveying petroleum products suspected to be crude oil and refined Automative Gas Oil in the Ekwremor local government area of Bayelsa state.
The navy commander, NNS SOROH, Nanmar Lakan, made this disclosure at the weekend.
He said the command received an intelligent report on the activities of oil thieves going on in the area.
Lakan reveed that "the seven suspects, with barges claimed to be security men working under the leadership of Tunu community.
"The suspects are being kept in custody as investigation into the allege theft is on-going."
He stated that Shell Petroleum Development Company, which operates in the area, had complained of the loss of 25 per cent daily production to oil thieves.
According to him, "two of the barges each has capacity of 637,000 litres while the third could contain 700,000 litres.
"Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the owners of the barges and where the products were meant to be discharged."
He warned those who indulge in such illegal activities of oil theft to reframe from such business."
