Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Navy on Wednesday uncovered a private residence converted to a massive illegal crude oil depot in Okwuzi community, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder. which uncovered the illegal depot, also confiscated over 200,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, popularly known as diesel, while two suspects were arrested during the operation.
Speaking, the Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, said the discovery which was made 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, was possible through the concerted effort of intelligence gathering.
Igbo also announced that the suspects will be handed over to prosecuting agencies, while the illegal refinery depot will be sealed.
He said: “The whole of this compound is being used as an illegal refining dump. This place was discovered through credible intelligence by our men at NNS Pathfinder.
“You will recall that the Nigerian Navy, a few weeks ago relaunch the Third Phase of Operation Delta Sanity, which is aimed at halting crude oil theft in the Niger Delta and sanitizing the region from the menace of illegal oil bunkering and other related activities.
“These illegally refined products here are massive, some are bagged in sacks, some in drums, and over 62 tanks are filled up, we have over 200,000 litres of illegal products refined from crude oil siphoned or stolen from the pipelines. This is too bad, it is not good enough for our economy. This is pure economic sabotage.
“We have made an arrest, the owner of this compound, being the person doing this illicit business has been arrested with one of his boys, efforts are still on to arrest everyone who is involved in this criminal act. The Nigerian Navy Ship 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 poised and determined to achieve that so that Nigeria’s oil output will increase and meet the OPEC quota of at least 2.5million barrels per day.”
The NNS Pathfinder boss further advised youths in the region not to allow themselves to be used as a tool to sabotage the nation’s economy.
