Two men suspected of stealing crude oil from an oil platform in Akwa Ibom State have been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Uyo and remanded in custody pending further proceedings.

The suspects were arrested on August twenty-fifth following an intelligence-led operation by the Nigerian Navy Ship Gongola, Forward Operating Base Ibaka.

They were allegedly caught siphoning crude oil from the Seplat Utue B Oilfield Jacket into a wooden boat loaded with seventeen GeePee tanks.

The Department of State Services, DSS, which arraigned the suspects, alleged that they planned to smuggle the crude oil to the Republic of Cameroon for sale.

Items reportedly recovered from the suspects include five outboard engines, three pumping machines and three large hoses allegedly used in the operation.