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The Eastern Naval Command, ENC, of the Nigeria Navy has arrested an oil product tanker MT FILIA (IMO No. 8662684) with 650 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil valued at over N660 million.

The ENC Operations Officer, Commodore Abubakar Umar, who announced the arrest at a media briefing in Calabar on Tuesday, said the feat was achieved based on credible intelligence.

Umar said the vessel sailing under the flag of Sao Tomé and Principe with 12 crew members onboard, was arrested on July 23 within Nigeria waters.

He said preliminary investigations indicated that the tanker vessel loitered within the vicinity of the offshore oil terminals located at Akwa Ibom for over seven days, waiting for an opportunity to gain access to some crude oil jackets.

According to him, the vessel subsequently proceeded to one of the oil jackets where it was engaged in the suspected illegal loading of crude oil.

“At about 04; 00hrs on July 23, MT FILIA departed the offshore oil terminal and proceeded seaward. Consequently, a navy patrol boat pursued and intercepted the vessel.

“On sighting the Nigerian navy ship, the crew began discharging the stolen crude into the sea, causing maritime pollution.

“Subsequent investigation reveals that the Captain of MT FILIA also admitted that the vessel loaded approximately 650 metric tonnes of crude oil at the terminal worth an estimated value of over N660 million.

“It is pertinent to state at this point that investigation is still ongoing to unravel further details of the dastardly act.”

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A serving officer of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Abdussalam Ude, has been killed after gunmen attacked his residence in the Kurudu area of Abuja.

According to sources, the incident happened on Monday evening shortly after the senior military officer returned home from work.

The attackers were reportedly attempting to abduct either the officer or members of his household when the situation turned violent.

Colonel Ude was shot dead during the attack, while his wife, driver, and security guard suffered gunshot wounds.

The injured victims were rushed to a hospital, where they are receiving medical attention.

Authorities have yet to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident, and the motive behind the attack has not been officially confirmed.

Security agencies, alongside military authorities, have launched investigations to track down those responsible for the killing.

Colonel Ude, an indigene of Enugu State, served in the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps and occupied several key intelligence and counter-terrorism positions during his years of service.

He was involved in military operations against insurgents in the North-East and also undertook international assignments in the Republic of Chad and France, where he supported intelligence and security cooperation initiatives.

Colleagues reportedly described him as a committed and highly professional officer.

As of the time this report was filed, the Nigerian Army had not released an official statement on the incident, while investigations remain ongoing.

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Suspected armed bandits have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Abdullahi, killing four persons, including two policemen and two local vigilantes who attempted to foil the attack.

A family source said the gunmen invaded the chairman’s residence and took him, his mother, wife and two children away. The source, however, said the family members were later released, while the abductors moved away with the council chairman, a health worker from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gusau, and a Point of Sale (POS) operator.

The bandits reportedly engaged security personnel and local vigilantes in a gun battle while making their escape, leaving several people injured by stray bullets. Among those affected was a retired treasurer of the Zamfara State Ministry of Finance and elder brother to the abducted chairman, Bello Umar Abdullahi.

The chairman’s wife said the bandits informed them that their target was only the council boss and asked the family members to return home.

“They released us at a shallow distance into the bush,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY), Northwest, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, said troops of the Nigerian Army successfully rescued the family members of the abducted chairman after a fierce gun battle with the bandits.