It was arrested by security officials and handed over to the Nigerian Navy on Saturday last week.
MT Deima vessel caught on Thursday last week with illegal crude oil by the Tantita Security Services Limited in Delta state, has been set ablaze by the Nigerian military in Warri, SaharaReporters has learnt.
The vessel with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number 7210525, arrested by a security company, Tantita Security Services Limited, was set ablaze on Monday by the Nigerian military.
The vessel, whose owners are yet to be identified, was loaded with an unspecified quantity of crude oil at the Escravos River in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State with eight crew members when it was apprehended.
It was arrested by security officials and handed over to the Nigerian Navy on Saturday last week.
SaharaReporters reliably gathered that the vessel was apprehended following a tip off that a ship was loading at the Escravos axis and the sum of N25million was allegedly offered as bribe to the security officials.
It was revealed that the capacity of the vessel is 1,500 metric tonnes and had on board eight crew members who were all Nigerians while the captain of the vessel confessed that they came in from Lagos and that if they were not arrested, the ship would have sailed back to Lagos.
As at the time of filing this report, all efforts to reach out to the Nigerian military were unsuccessful and no reason had been given for the action even when investigations were said to be concluded.