Fuel scarcity: EFCC arrests oil thieves in Lagos, reveals names

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos has commenced an investigation of 13 suspected oil thieves and a vessel, MT SWEET MIRI.

Both the suspects and the vessels were handed over to the commission by the Nigerian Navy NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos State on April 24, 2024.

The EFCC's spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement issued on Monday, April 29, revealed the identities of the suspects as Abu Smith, Pascal Anyafulu, David Ali, Mba Okpanu, Chukuma Friday Obiazi, Miye Victor and Richard Kofi.

Others are Monday Aidenagbon, Dele Olayemi, Boma Robinson, David George, Onos Edemefe and Suleiman Aremu.

The statement read in part: "The vessel and the crew were intercepted and arrested on February 27, 2024, by officers of the Nigerian Navy for alleged illegal oil bunkering and automatic identification system infractions.

"The vessel was laden with about 1,322 metric tonnes of substance confirmed to bear the attributes of crude oil without any document permitting her to be in…