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Nigeria Arrests 22 Filipinos for Stealing Crude Oil

17th Nov. '08

Nigeria's military has arrested 22 Filipinos on suspicion of stealing thousands of tons of crude oil, officials said Saturday. The men were arrested late Friday on their vessel as it left a channel and headed toward open water off the coast of the oil-producing state of Delta in southern Nigeria, regional army spokesman Lt. Col. Rabe Abubaker said.

The ship was carrying up to 13,400 tons (12,000 metric tonnes) of crude oil believed to have been stolen from a sabotaged pipeline further inland and transported to the vessel on barges, he said. Twelve military boats were deployed to escort the vessel and its crew back to Warri, the Delta State capital. Abubaker said investigations into the incident were under way.

Theft of oil and other petroleum products is common in southern Nigeria, with ships hooking up to well heads and flow stations throughout the vast, swampy region to fill their holds with crude. Analysts say about 10 percent of Nigeria's daily oil production is lost to theft, and it is a major source of funds for criminals and militants in the area. Security forces have also been accused of involvement in the practice, known as bunkering.

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