Navy Sets Ablaze 350,000 Litres Oil-Laden Vessel Detained In Rivers

The Nigerian Navy has set fire to a ship, MV Cecilia, that was captured carrying over 350,000 liters of stolen Automated Gas Oil, better known as diesel, in Woji, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Recall that on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, crew members from the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, seized the ship and detained three individuals.
Real Admiral Olusegun Ferrera, the commander of Operation Delta Safe, had led reporters around the detained vessel. He was represented by Navy Commodore Adedokun Siyanbade, the marine component commander of the Joint Taskforce for Operation Delta Safe, South-South.

Ferrera, said the vessel which has not been put in use for two years was used as a storage tank for illegally refined products.

He said as part of efforts to actualise the mandate of the Operation Delta Safe, the Commander JTF, South-South of OPDS directed the NNS Pathfinder based on credible intelligence to conduct a convert operation in the area, which led to the arrest.

Vessel Of Stolen Crude Oil Ablaze In Delta Set Ablaze By FG

He stated, “The vessel has the capacity all together including the fuel and water capacity of about 350,000 litres.
“The water tanks have been converted as a storage tank for this illegal products and the vessel has not been to sea for the past two years.

But on Wednesday afternoon, personnel of the NNS Pathfinder acting ‘under extant regulations’ pushed the vessel far into the deep waters, rained diesel and petrol on it, before setting fire on the arrested vessel.

Our correspondent who witnessed the scene reports that two Naval gun boats manned with personnel excorted the impounded vessel, while a tug boat pushed it for over two hours into a safe location where it was positioned.

The stationary vessel gradually convulsed into flames with tick black smoke billowing into the sky.

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