The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said it has commenced investigations into the activities of eight suspected oil thieves in Rivers State.

The suspects were handed over to the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the EFCC by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Akiama Road, Bonny Island, Rivers State, on January 10, 2024.

The EFCC in a statement on its website noted that the suspects were arrested with an unquantified amount of illegally acquired Automotive Gas Oil, also known as diesel, along Bonny Channel.

According to the Naval Hand-Over Officer, Lieutenant Commander G.Y. Gwaza, the vessel, MV Cabrini, and her eight crew members were arrested during an operation on November 8, 2023.

Gwaza said the suspected oil thieves were handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.

In response, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, Itoro Levi, who received the suspects on behalf of the EFCC, assured that thorough and professional investigations would be carried out in the case.

She also thanked the Navy for its collaborative efforts with the anti-graft agency.

Freelanews reports that on December 12, 2023, the Navy handed over three arrested suspects to the police for facilitating a fake oil approval for a Marine Vessel known as Mother Gabrini in Rivers State.

While parading the suspects after a press briefing, the Commander of the NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, said the vessel was intercepted on November 8 for suspected illegal bunkering during activities by the Forward Operating Base in the Bonny Council of the state.