March 19, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Navy has arrested a Vessel; MT Queen of Peace, over its involvement in maritime illegalities on Nigeria’s Maritime domain.

The arrest according to the navy, is a fall out of operationalisation of Exercise Obangame Express 2022, the multinational sea exercise currently ongoing.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, said that “the vessel was last sighted at the Trans Amadi Jetty in Port Harcourt, before she switched off her Automatic Identification System (AIS) and proceeded on 3 weeks of dark (unknown) activities, but was successfully intercepted South West of Bonny Fair Way Buoy.”

According to him, the dark activity of the vessel was monitored by the Nigerian Navy Falcon Eye Surveillance System and Nigerian Navy Ship EKULU, which was detached from the Exercise Obangame to intercept and arrest the vessel.

The Naval Chief said that “subsequent interrogation revealed that the vessel with 14 crew members onboard was laden with unspecified quantity of crude oil.”

The vessel was also unable to provide appropriate documentation from the point of loading as well as documents and authority of her intended operations.

He said that “these, therefore, led to the arrest of the vessel and she is currently at Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, BONNY, for further investigation and possible hand-over for prosecution.”

He said the Exercise Obangame Express 2022 has also seen the arrest of seven Beninoise in a long wooden boat fully loaded with unspecified petroleum products from questionable sources.

The Exercise is the largest multinational maritime exercise in West Africa with 32 countries participating in their respective maritime area from 11th-18th March, 2022.

Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder at Naval Base, Port Harcourt, also arrested and handed over five suspected oil thieves with a diesel – laden barge and a tug boat to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This arrest reinforces the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to consistently sustain its aggressive posture against oil theft and other maritime illegalities.