SAN FRANCISCO, March 15, (THEWILL) – Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Delta) has launched a manhunt for members of a syndicate that has been threatening oil servicing companies operating in the Delta waterways to pay them money ranging from N20million for security cover for their ships, vessels in the waterways, THEWILL has learnt.
Sources said the group had been trying to hoodwink ships and oil servicing companies in Delta waterway to part with the said money for the past few weeks.
But the scam was said to have been busted after the syndicate reportedly sent massages to NNPC- operated vessel and authorities of Matrix Oil in Warri to pay the sum of N20million for security cover for their operations in the waterways.
THEWILL learnt the syndicate was trying to usurp the efforts of the Navy which is saddled with the responsibility of policing the Delta waterways.
Commanding Officer, NNS Delta, Commodore Musa Gemu, who confirmed the development said a crack investigative team has been directed to track the syndicate which he confirmed had been sending text messages to companies in the area.
According to him, the Naval Command was aware of the new wave of crime in the waterways and has gotten a clue on how to track down those behind the criminal act.
Commodore Gemu said the waterways have been peaceful and calm since the Command intensified its clampdown on illegal local refineries, as well as piracy, except the new wave of crime by the alleged syndicate.
According to the Naval officer: “There is no more illegal oil bunkering but if there is any, it is in small quantity now but in place of illegal bunkering, they are into piracy, kidnapping and all sorts of shielding deals in the waterways and this new wave.
“The state of the waterways is calm now but there is a new wave of crime in the waterways. The new wave of crime is that some criminal elements out there sending text messages to Chief Executives and Captains of ships and industry around this area, especially the oil companies demanding for a certain amount of money as much as N20million to be paid to them monthly, saying they are the ones providing security for them for their ships and for the companies around.
“We have gotten some names like the ‘River Don’ and ‘Osama’-this are some of the names we have as perpetrators of this crime and with synergy with other security agencies, we are looking for them now. We would soon get to them.
“They are criminals, they go and hold ships, companies to ransom and start demanding money? What is the Navy doing? They are criminals and when we get them, they would be in for it”, he said.
He warned companies operating in the waterways to be wary of phoney organisations or groups posing as security companies capable of giving security coverage for their ships in the Delta waterways.
While warning the perpetrators to steer clear of the waterways, Gemu also dismissed speculations that illegal local refineries were springing up in the Benin River weeks after Delta waterways have been raided of hundreds of the local refineries.
