The United States Coast Guard, in collaboration with the US Navy, has intercepted a Nigerian-owned supertanker, Skipper, over allegations of crude oil theft, piracy, and other transnational crimes, thus confirming earlier reports that oil theft still thrives in Nigeria.
Nigeria reportedly lost 13.5m barrels of crude worth $3.3 billion to theft and sabotage in one year, according to NEITI.
The interception of the vessel, a 20-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier, VLCC, with IMO Number 9304667, reportedly owned and managed by Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures Limited has again heightened suspicion that despite assurances from the federal government, top government officials, the military top brass and some crooked citizens have continued to milk the nation by stealing its natural resources.
Political Economist NG reports that the interception of the vessels has triggered tension and anxiety in the Nigerian military and among some top guns in the Niger Delta suspected to be working in tandem with government officials to lift Nigeria crude illegally in a booming illegal bunkering business.
Solid minerals theft including gold and lithium have continued to boom in Zamfara, Osun, Nasarawa and other parts of the country with active connivance of government officials and security agents.
The vessel has its registered owner listed as Triton Navigation Corp with headquarters in the Marshall Islands and was reportedly illegally flying the Guyanese flag at the time of its arrest.
In a swift rebuttal, Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department, MARAD, confirmed that Skipper is not on its national ship registry and was using the country’s flag without authorisation.
According to US security sources, the seizure was carried out under American law enforcement authority, with President Donald Trump announcing the operation.
Beyond suspicions of stolen crude, the vessel is also being investigated for allegedly transporting a large consignment of hard drugs and operating within a network backed by suspected Iranian and other Islamist-linked money-laundering financiers.
