Seven Sri Lankans, along with 57 Nigerians and two Ghanians, were arrested by the Nigerian Navy for oil bunkering, foreign media reports. Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into the incident after the suspects were handed over to it on Friday (03). Reports said that the arrests were made after seven vessels that were used for oil bunkering were raided by the Nigerian Navy from December 3 to 30.
Commandant of NN ship, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Ibrahim Shettima has told the media the arrests have prevented a loss of petroleum products in the country.
Meanwhile, Nigerian newspaper Vanguard quoted one of the Sri Lankan’s arrested and identified as Captain Kapila who said he was forced to go to Nigeria. “I do not understand the terrain. This is my first time in Nigeria. I was only given a directive to come here and take the cargo. I don’t know Nigeria’s law. I was forced to come,” he has told Vanguard. He has added, “the directive was that when I get to anchorage in Ghana, the Operation Manager of my company would call to tell me what to do next. My company is in Greece and I have been sailing since 1990”.