Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Navy says it has, in the last one year, arrested and detained 27 vessels involved in oil theft while 294 illegal refineries were deactivated during the period.
The Nigerian Navy, Eastern Naval Command, also announced that it has sustained effective patrol of its maritime area of responsibility as well as undertaken several clearance and swamp buggy operations in the backwaters.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, disclosed this in Calabar while handing over the leadership of the Command to his successor, Rear Admiral Olusola Oluwagbire.
Dewu noted that the operations of the Eastern Naval Command has resulted in a considerable reduction of piracy in the country’s maritime domain.
“Within the period under review, from February 2022 till date, our sustained operations led to the arrests of 27 vessels engaged in illegal bunkering, crude oil theft and other maritime illegalities.
“Other achievements include deactivation of about 294 illegal refining sites and still counting, destruction and evacuation of illegally refined diesel, kerosine and crude oil and destruction of several pirates as well as kidnappers’ camps.
“It is noteworthy to state that the command also recorded significant achievements in infrastructure development across all the bases and establishments under the command,” he said.
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