The Presidential Candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore has accused the Nigerian Navy of having skeleton in their cupboard by setting the vessels caught with stolen crude oil up on fire.
Officers of the Nigerian Navy in Delta State had on Monday destroyed an illegal oil bunkering vessel arrested with stolen crude oil aboard Niger Delta creeks.
It was gathered that operatives of the newly-contracted private oil pipeline surveillance team, Tantita Security Services, effected the vessel’s arrest alongside its seven-member crew, on October 6, 2022, on the creeks of Escravos, while crude oil was being loaded illegally into the ship.
According to report, about 600 to 650 cubic metres of illegally lifted crude oil in five compartments was said to be on board the vessel with registration number L85 B9.50 as at the time it was arrested.
The Nigerian Navy personnel set the ill-fated vessel on fire on Warri River at about 3 o’clock on Monday afternoon following confession of the Captain of the ship, Temple Manasseh, that the vessel was actually crude-laden.
Reacting, the human right activist described the decision of the Nigerian Navy as the most “idiotic” action.
He added that such decision could further increase the already polluted environment in the Niger Delta region.
The publisher of Sahara Reporters made the allegation on his twitter handle on Monday night saying that those vessels could also serve as evidence in the court.
He accused those in charge resulted to destruction to cover up the real owners and culprits.
He recalled how the Nigeria Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, also set ablaze cocaine worth billions of Naira found in Lagos. The action, he alleged, was adopted to cover up the real culprits.
He wrote, “NEWS: Nigerian Military Sets Ablaze Vessel Caught With Illegal Crude Oil In the Delta
“The most idiotic action carried out by any military, how do you “set ablaze” fuel laden vessel except to cover up oil theft? Is there no one in the military who understands the horrific environmental impact of setting ablaze crude oil laden vessel in the Niger Delta region already polluted beyond imagination?
“What about the legal aspects, destroying evidence-obstruction of justice? The other day they “set ablaze “cocaine” haul they claimed to have found in Lagos. Evidence destruction to cover up the real owners and culprits,” he said
“Nigeria has been turned into a real jungle! Only a revolution can change things, we promise to provide that revolutionary leadership!”