The Nigerian Navy, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, handed over 12 suspected oil thieves and 161,280 litres of suspected stolen diesel to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

Commodore Chindo Yahaya, the Base Operations Officer of NNS Pathfinder, said the suspects were arrested for their alleged involvement in the theft of the diesel valued at N30 million during several raids off the waterways in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the state.

Yahaya, who handed over a tug boat, a barge, three wooden boats, and 172 drums containing the stolen diesel to NSCDC, said the barge, MV Saviour, contained 120,000 litres of diesel, while the wooden boats carried 41,280 litres of the stole diesel.

He said Navy was succee-ding in its fight against oil theft, adding that it had impounded several vessels, barges, boats and had destroyed several illegal refineries.

The Deputy Commandant of NSCDC, Mrs Christy Abiakam, who received the suspects, said the corps would carry out detailed and speedy investigation into the case.

She said that if found culpable, the suspects would be arraigned before a law court.