Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, yesterday said the Nigerian Navy knew all those involved in crude oil theft in the country.

This is even as he threatened to mention names of those involved, alleging that oil companies in the country were also culpable.

The CNS disclosed this at a meeting in Abuja with chief executives of oil companies where they discussed issues bordering on crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other related crimes in the nation’s maritime domain.

While stressing the persistence of maritime security challenges in Nigeria and the unconcerned attitude of the CEOs of oil companies towards solving them, Jibrin declared that he had evidence including pictures to prove that the oil companies were most culpable in the crimes.

According to the navy chief, “This meeting is convened to discuss some of our security challenges that we have in the maritime sector, particularly oil theft and illegal bunkering.

“When a meeting of this nature is called, the IOCs must take it very seriously; after all, it took me almost seven and half months to call for this meeting and specifically we said we were not going to accept representation not that those of you representing your various companies are not competent enough to discuss, but to drive home the point we wish to make today is to make the point very clear that we have a serious challenge and we need the cooperation of the chief executives to be able to provide solution to the daunting security challenges with respect to oil thefts.

“Particularly it has become very worrisome that we have not been able to check this. And I personally believe that it had gotten to a point that instead of pointing accusing fingers at each other, we shall be mentioning names, including the major stakeholders.

“We cannot pretend to say that the oil companies do not have hands in some of these illegalities. To pretend is to allow you continue; and on my part, you will not pretend.