Navy destroys 19 illegal refineries, nabs 8 suspects

The Nigerian Navy Units under the auspices of Operation Delta Sanity have destroyed several illegal refining sites and apprehended eight suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta region.

The Director of Navy Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, in a statement on Friday, said the operations were conducted from Sept. 2 to Sept. 23.

He said the troops had on Sept. 2, destroyed one Illegal Refining Site with two wooden boats and 28 sacks laden with product suspected to be illegally refined AGO at Isonogbene, Ogboinbiri, Kasama-Azama-Isoni axis in South Ijaw Local Government Area of  Bayelsa.

He added that three wooden boats and one speed boat laden with stolen crude oil and illegally refined AGO were seized around Brass River, Nembe, Botokiri community in Bayelsa on Sept. 4.

According to him, two illegal refinery sites with two ovens, two reservoirs, one dugout pit and two wooden boats laden with stolen crude oil were seized and destroyed around Bonny Channel, Sobikiri, Adamakiri, Eferwarie and Isaka general area of Rivers on Sept. 5.

“On Sept. 9, two active illegal refining sites with one wooden boat, two ovens, 3 dugout pits and 4 drums laden with stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized at Okporoza creek and Tibo community Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta.

“On Sept. 10, a newly constructed illegal refinery site, one reservoir and one dugout pit laden with stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized at Odo-Bioku within Awoye Riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

“On Sept. 12, two suspected sea robbers were arrested in their camp in Effiat community, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom,” he said.

Adams-Aliu said that several illegal refining sites and stolen crude oil were seized and destroyed across other locations in the region during the period under review.

“Cumulatively, eight suspects, 19 illegal fefining sites, 25 wooden boats, 138 sacks laden with stolen crude oil, 26 reservoirs, 19 ovens, 12 dugout pits, four drums and three fibre boats were arrested and seized during the 21 day period.

“The Nigerian Navy will continue to sustain the tempo of Anti Crude Oil Operations to deny oil thieves freedom of action, especially in the Niger Delta region for enhanced crude oil production towards improved economic development of our nation,” he added.