The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER, has uncovered a private residence converted to an illegal refining site in Okwuzi community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Commander of the Base, NNS PATHFINDER, Commodore Desmond Igbo led men of the military team on a tour that discovered the illegal refining site in the area yesterday.
Speaking with journalists at the illegal site, Commodore Igbo disclosed that over 200,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), popularly known as diesel was confiscated, while two suspects were arrested during the operation
He said the discovery was achieved in line with the mandate of the Chief of Naval Staff to combat crude oil theft and other related vices in the Niger Delta region.
According to Igbo, the operation was successful through concerted effort of intelligence gathering.
He said: “My men at the Nigerian Navy Ship NNS PATHFINDER, through credible intelligence, we were able to discover this place. The whole of this compound is being used as illegal refining site.
“You will recall that Nigerian Navy, few weeks ago relaunched the third phase 3 of the Operation Delta Sanity which is aimed at halting crude oil theft in Niger Delta, and sanitise the region from the menace of illegal oil bunkering and other related activities.
“This illegally refined products here is massive, some are bagged in sacks, some in drums and over 62 tanks is filled up, we have over 200,000 litres of illegal products refined from crude oil siphoned or stolen from the pipelines”.
The commander condemned the act, describing it as a bad feat that attacks the stability of the economy, saying that “is pure economic sabotage”.
Speaking further, Igbo stressed “We have made arrest, the owner of this compound, being the person doing this illicit business have been arrested with one of his boys”.
He said efforts are still on to arrest everyone involved in the criminal act, adding that the NNS PATHFINDER is determined to apprehend them wherever they are, both in the water and on the land.
“The Nigerian Navy under the able leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has given us the mandate to end crude oil theft in our areas of operations, and we are determined to achieve that, so that the Nigeria oil output will increase and meet the OPEC quota of at least 2.5million barrels per day.”
Igbo noted that the suspects will be handed over to prosecuting agencies, while the compound will be sealed, while advising youths in the region not to be used as a tool to sabotage the nation’s economy.
Blessing Ibunge
Follow us on:
