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DEFENCE

Crude Oil Theft: Navy Nabs Oil Vessel with 17 Crew

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The Nigerian Navy says its Forward Operating Base (FOB), IGBOKODA, in Ondo State, hasi n the early hours of Thursday apprehended a 77-meter-long Motor Tanker (MT) VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS involved in crude oil theft.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, in Abuja.

Ayo-Vaughan said the vessel, which had 17 crew members onboard at the time of arrest, was caught engaging in illegal siphoning of crude oil from one of the well heads at EBESAN oil field about 7 nautical miles off the coast of Awoye riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo state.

He said the arrest of the vessel followed credible intelligence received by the Base on the illegal activities of crude oil thieves at the location, which informed the swift deployment of FOB IGBOKODA personnel to nab the vessel and her crew.

“Notably, as the anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of FOB IGBOKODA approached  MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS, the 2 x boats attached to the vessel fled on sighting the naval personnel, which confirmed the engagement of the vessel in illegality.

“Accordingly, on arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the vessel was actively involved in siphoning crude oil from both sides of the well head.

“Consequently, upon further search and interrogation, it was further discovered that the vessel had onboard 17 crew members of Nigerian nationality.”

Ayo-Vaughan said the vessel had storage capacity of about 15,000 metric tonnes, adding that it loaded about 500 metric tonnes of crude oil as at the time of arrest.

According to him, the arrest of MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS attests to the Nigerian Navy’s determination to curb crude oil theft and all manners of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

He warned that the Nigerian navy would use all legitimate means at its disposal to track and arrest perpetrators of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime environment.

He solicited the cooperation of patriotic and well-meaning members of the public to promptly report any form of criminality, especially in the coastal communities to the navy for necessary action.

According to him, it is believed that Tantita Security Service (TSS) is involved in these illegalities because Awoye riverine area which is close to the place of arrest is covered by TSS.

“Again, it was upon the arrest of the vessel by the Nigerian navy that TSS began to raise false alarm, totally unfounded and indeed mischievous.

“Nonetheless, the Nigerian navy remains resolute in the pursuit of her constitutional mandate for the protection of Nigeria’s Maritime Environment for national economic development and prosperity,” he stated.  (NAN)

DEFENCE

Troops Rescue Three Kidnap Victims in Kebbi  

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Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued three kidnapped victims following an operation in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi.

The Media Coordinator of the operation, Osoba Olaniyi, confirmed this in a statement on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi.

Olaniyi stated that the rescue took place on Oct.

24 adding that two victims were rescued at Makuku Village, while one was rescued at Dankolo village.

“The rescued victims include A’isha Aminu, 46, Sumayya Aminu, 27, and Nana Abbas, 15,” the media coordinator said.

He disclosed that the victims were subsequently handed over to the District Head of Dirindaji, Alhaji Usman Muhammad, through the Chairman of Sakaba Local Government Area.

Olaniyi noted that the operation was concluded successfully without any incident, stressing that the troops remained committed to the protection of lives and property.

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DEFENCE

Troops Neutralise Six Terrorists, Arrest 11 Suspected Collaborators in Borno

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Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised six terrorists, arrested 11 suspected collaborators and received the surrender of a Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) member in Borno.

This was contained in an operational report on Sunday in Abuja.

The report said the operations, conducted by troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), targeted terrorist fighters and suspected support networks in Kaga and Gwoza Local Government Areas.

It said troops of 29 Task Force Brigade Garrison, supported by Hybrid Force personnel, ambushed suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)/JAS terrorists along the Targejeri axis of Kaga at about 12:37 a.

m. on Oct. 25.

According to the report, six terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, while troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, three magazines and 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

“Other recovered items included two Android phones, three button phones and charms.

“In a related development, troops arrested six additional suspected terrorist collaborators during a follow-up raid in Benisheikh, Kaga, at about 6:20 a.m. on Oct. 24.

“The arrests brought the number of suspects apprehended in connection with the investigation to 11, including five earlier arrests.

“Items listed as recovered during the raid included an AK-47 rifle, three empty magazines, 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three terrorist uniforms, a turban, a head mask, two Android phones, three button phones and charms,” it said.

The report said the suspects were undergoing investigation to establish their alleged involvement in terrorist activities and identify possible links to other members of the network.

It added that troops of 192 Battalion (Main), supported by Hybrid Force personnel at Hambagda Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Gwoza, received a JAS member who surrendered at about 9:20 p.m. on Saturday.

According to the report, preliminary investigation indicated that the individual had escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of Gwoza and decided to abandon terrorism.

“The individual surrendered with an AK-47 rifle and a magazine containing 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” it added.

The report said the defector was in custody undergoing further investigation and processing in line with established procedures.

It said the operations underscore OPHK’s continued efforts to disrupt terrorist activities, dismantle support networks and encourage defections through sustained, intelligence-led operations.

The military urged members of the public to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to support efforts to restore peace and enable displaced communities to return safely. (NAN)

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DEFENCE

UK, Nigeria to Deepen Defence, Security Cooperation

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The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening defence and security cooperation with Nigeria, with emphasis on military training, technology transfer and institutional capacity building.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles, reiterated the commitment during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen.

Olufemi Oluyede, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

This was contained in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Vowles reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to sustaining existing security initiatives and exploring new areas of collaboration to address evolving regional and global security challenges.

He described defence and security cooperation as critical pillars of the longstanding bilateral relationship between both countries.

The high commissioner also stressed the need for a mutually beneficial partnership that would promote regional stability and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle contemporary security threats.

In his response, Oluyede highlighted the longstanding historical ties between Nigeria and the UK, noting that both countries had sustained productive defence relations over several decades.

He said the two countries had continued to collaborate in addressing shared security concerns.

The CDS emphasised the need to sustain and expand existing areas of cooperation, particularly in professional military education, technology transfer and institutional capacity building.

According to him, ongoing defence agreements and training programmes have contributed to improving the professional competence and operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Oluyede emphasised that continued collaboration with strategic international partners remained vital to strengthening the military’s capacity to respond effectively to emerging threats.

He added that such partnerships would also promote greater self-reliance, institutional resilience and operational efficiency within the Armed Forces.

Both parties expressed optimism about the future of the UK-Nigeria defence and security partnership, reaffirming their commitment to consolidating existing achievements and exploring further areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.

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