The Nigerian Navy has again destroyed a vessel used for illegally refined product confirmed to be kerosene in Abuloma jetty in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The vessel, MV OFUOMA, laden with about 20, 000 litres of illegally refined product was arrested by the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) alongside a wooden boat used for transferring the product into the vessel.
THISDAY gathered that the product, vessel and the wooden boat were set ablaze in the middle of the sea very far from any human settlement.
Speaking at the site of the destruction on Wednesday, Commander, Joint Task force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, said the product was set ablaze after the Nigerian Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority tested and confirmed it to be illegally refined.
Represented by Maritime Component Commander Operation Delta Safe, Commodore Adedokun Siyanbade, Ferriera said the vessel MV OFUOMA was intercepted by the troops on August 27, 2023, in Abuloma.
He said the arrest and destruction of the product was in line with the mandate to eradicate the region of crude oil theft, vandalism and other criminality, adding that vessel MV CECELIA, earlier arrested on August 25, 2023, had been burnt.
“In line with the mandate of Joint Task Joint South-south Operation Delta Safe, the Joint Force is determined to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the fight against crude oil theft, vandalism and other criminality in the Niger Delta Region.
“This can be attested to with the numerous achievements that have been recorded in cause of our operations.
“It would be recalled that on August 15, 2023, our troops intercepted a vessel MV CECELIA in Port Harcourt, which was used as a storage and dispensing unit for illegally refined products. The vessel was later handled after thorough investigation and confirmation that the product was illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.
“In the same vein, on August 27, 2023, another vessel MV OFUOMA was discovered and intercepted by its own troops with more than 20, 000 litres of illegally refined product suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil in Abuloma jetty in Port Harcourt.
“You recall that we witnessed the taking of samples of the product by some officials of the Nigerian Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for testing, while parading the vessel and the suspects. It is noteworthy that the result is out and the product failed the standard requirements for AGO and thus confirmed to be illegally refined.
“With the confirmation of the illegality of the product being stored by MV OFUOMA, the vessel is today being handled in line with the Extent Directive you have witnessed.”
Ferriera stressed that the destruction of the vessel and product would serve as a deterrent to others who may be intending to be involved in the nation’s economic sabotage. He urged the general public to continue to support the operations with credible information on such crime.
Blessing Ibunge
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