THE headquarters of Lagos State Police Command has on Friday, hosted the Nigerian Navy as they handed over 5 suspected oil thieves, and boat snatchers to the Lagos Police.
The Nigerian Navy arrested the suspects who claimed to be members of “Tantita Security Service ” during the process they were arrested on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at the Waterways, and afterwards, handed them over to the Police, at the press briefing held, at the Police Headquarters Ikeja.
The names were; Owoyele Joseph Omotuyi, Obajimi Oluwaseyifunmi, Balogun Oluwadaisi, Asonja Godday and Awolowo Aribo were arrested on August 29, 2023.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects include a 300-horsepower boat engine and eleven, 1000 litres tanks with petroleum products suspected to be stolen with crude oil.
Speaking at the event, the Commander, Nigeria Navy Ship BEECROFT, Apapa, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, said the 5 were apprehended in Tolu Community, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
According to him, “We received a distress call from the community that there was sporadic gunshots heard around the community.
So, men from the operating base in Lekki, on getting to the waterfront, met the men dressed in black polo T-shirts with Tantita written at the back.
“They were trying to forcefully collect a 300-horsepower outboard engine from a local. Our men apprehended them and retrieved the engine.”
Thereafter, our men realised that the arrested men were part of a group escorting 2 wooden boats.
“at the process Our men beckoned on the Suspects to come over, they took off, but our men approached the boats only to discover eleven, 1000 litres tanks, with petroleum products suspected to be stolen crude oil, onboard the wooden boats.
Oguntuga expressed that “the handing over of the suspects and the exhibits to the Nigeria Police, was done to unravel the circumstances and the escaped men in the other boat that are at large.
“Also, stated further that this handing over, re-enforces the synergy between the security agencies on the assignment, as to continue to work together to make Lagos safe, and leave no gap for any person or group to have their way to carry out nefarious activities in Lagos State and Nigeria.
He assured that the media shall be carried along, as further investigation is going on; and the Security Agencies shall continue to assist one another on the Lagos Waterways, in repair of their platforms on the boats.
The Lagos State Commissioner Of Police, CP Owohunwa commended the Naval Commodore for the support, confidence and excellence operational breakthrough recorded under his command.
He pledged to work as a team to take in the suspects and investigate the case till they get to the root of the crime, so that the crime spot will not remain to waterborne criminals, and become a no go area for them.
