Navy destroys illegal oil refineries in Niger Delta
(Nigeria) The Nigerian Navy has stepped up efforts towards eliminating
all forms of crimes in Nigeria’s waters. In line with the directive of the
Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the operational Commands
have therefore sustained the ongoing clampdown on illegal refineries, crude oil
theft, pipeline vandalism, smuggling, piracy and sea robbery.
A statement by Commodore Christian Ezeboke, Director of Information, said “In the latest raids conducted against the
criminals, the Nigerian Navy patrol team deployed from NNS Delta discovered and
destroyed illegal crude oil refineries set up in Lolomu creek in Gbaramatu
Kingdom and Tagola creek all in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta
State.
“In one of the discovered sites, the patrol team destroyed
11 storage tanks, three Cotonou boats loaded with product suspected to be
stolen crude oil, two pumping machines and 40 horse power (HP) fibre boat. Some
of the items destroyed at Tagola creek are 30 drums of 200 litres each, six GP tanks
of 15,000 litres each, six tanks of 10,000 litres each and a locally made gun
with one live cartridge.
“The operators of the illegal refinery fled before the
arrival of the naval patrol team. However, in what could be tagged a big
harvest of criminals, the NNS Delta patrol team arrested 10 persons suspected
to be engaged in crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism. The suspects were
arrested in a speed boat and two large Cotonou boats around the SPDC Forcados
area.
“The Cotonou boats were laden with unquantified product
suspected to be illegally refined AGO in GP tanks. The team also recovered
seven outboard engines and 13 pumping machines.
“Additionally, two suspected crude oil thieves were arrested
around Ugwangue Warri South West LGA of Delta State. Some items recovered from
them are a Cotonou boat conveying 40 drums of substance suspected to be
illegally refined AGO.
“In a related development, Nigerian Navy patrol team
deployed from Forward Operations Base (FOB) Badagry has arrested six suspected
smugglers around Askere waterways in a boat enroute Lagos from Cotonou. The
suspects were conveying about 200 bags of smuggled rice as at the time of
arrest.
“The clampdown on smuggling has been sustained even as NNS Makurdi,
a Nigerian Navy patrol ship intercepted and arrested 22 suspects in two boats.
The suspects were conveying about 600 bags of
the 22 persons, 14 of them are Nigerians while eight are Cameroonian
citizens. The suspects and exhibits have been handed over to the Nigerian
Customs for further investigation and prosecution.
“In view of the foregoing, the Nigerian Navy is sending a
clear message to the criminals. They are therefore warned to desist from their
acts of economic sabotage or face the full wrath of the law. This is because
there will be no hiding place for them in our maritime environment,” the
statement added.
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