The captain of an ocean-going vessel, MT KALI, arrested in Bayelsa State stunned security agents and reporters by claiming ignorance of the content of the ship.
While fielding questions from reporters yesterday, Captain David Adeboye said, “I’m battling with how the vessel got filled with crude oil instead of diesel (Automated Gas Oil).’
Operatives of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSL) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bayelsa State arrested the vessel laden with 200,000 litres of stolen crude on Thursday.
During their parade of the crew members and some local accomplices at Oporoza in Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State, Adeboye said they were test-running the vessel when they got a directive to head to Bayelsa State.
He explained that they sailed from a base in Lagos where the vessel was anchored for over one year for maintenance.
Adeboye, who gave the name of their boss simply as Niyi, added the crew was asked to test-run the vessel for 10 miles to certify that it was fit for a long trip.
His words: ”When we set out from Lagos State where the boat had been in for more than a year. They were doing some maintenance on it. So, when we came out, we were instructed to test run the engine for like 10 miles. After 10 miles if we are satisfied that she can go as far as Bayelsa, then we should let them know.
“After two hours, we got to know that one of the engines was not working.
“But the management gave us instructions to go to Bayelsa and bring Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) to Lagos.
“The original plan was to load AGO, at which point it now turned to crude, that is what I am still battling with up till now.
“Currently, we have 119 tonnes of crude oil on board the vessel. The agent brought his boys and at the end of the day filled the vessel with crude.”
