Nigeria seizes 25 ships over oil theft in 7 months

Nigerian navy operating in the oil-rich Niger Delta have seized 25 vessels laden with stolen crude oil in the last seven months, a top official said Friday.

Rear-Adm. Atiku Abdulkadir, out-going Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, made this known while handing over to his successor, Rear-Adm. James Oluwole, in southern city of Calabar.

He said the illegal activities included adulteration of crude and theft of petroleum product, adding that the arrests were made on suspected oil thieves, tugs and Cotonou boats.

Abdulkadir said the destruction of impounded items was done in line with the Nigerian Navy's mandate, which was to clampdown on crude oil theft and illegal refineries.