The Nigerian Navy in Bonny has impounded 19,000 litres of alleged stolen crude oil, saying it has also destroyed an illegal refining site at Peterside Community in Bonny local council area of Rivers State.
Sirajo Almustapha, a lieutenant commander and Base Operations Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Bonny, who disclosed this in the week in Bonny, said it is in line with the operational guidelines and strategic directives of Emmanuel Ogalla, a vice admiral and Chief of Naval Staff.
According to him, operatives of the FOB Bonny acted on intelligence report and stormed the suspected illegal refining site where they said they discovered equipment being used for the nefarious activities and promptly deactivated them.
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“Following the credible intel, the Base deployed the anti-crude oil theft team comprising armed personnel on an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission to validate the intel and subsequently deactivate any illegal refinery site sighted.”
He went on: “An active illegal refining site was discovered behind the community. At the point of discovery, the illegal refining site had two cooking tanks, two storage tanks, two plastic tanks, one large water tank and one dug-out pit.
“Further assessment revealed that one storage tank was laden with about 5,000L of product suspected to be stolen crude oil, the plastic tanks were laden with about 1,000L of products suspected to be stolen crude oil while the dug-out pit contained about 1,000L of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.”
He said at the moment, the illegal refining site was deactivated while an investigation was ongoing to identify and apprehend the operators of the site.
“While the team was withdrawing, a large wooden boat carefully concealed at the entrance of the community was discovered. The boat was laden with about 2,000L of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. Similarly, the boat was confiscated in line with extant regulations.”
Meanwhile, Almustapha stated that in the early hours of the same day, operatives of the FOB Bonny stationed at Oputumbi general area, acting on intelligence, intercepted a wooden boat conveying suspected stolen crude oil and promptly confiscated both the boat and its cargo.
“In continuation of the fight against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities within FOB Bonny Area of Operation, the Base anti-crude oil theft team stationed at Maritime Guard Post two around Oputumbi general area, acting on credible intel intercepted a large wooden boat around Owokpo general area.
“Upon inspection, it was discovered that the wooden boat was laden with about 10,000L of product suspected to be illegally stolen crude oil. Subsequently, the boat was confiscated in line with extant regulations.”
The FOB Bonny Operations Officer reiterated the determination of the Nigerian Navy to sustain its bullish aggression against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities, warning the perpetrators to consider alternative business options.
He reassured stakeholders in the maritime sector of the commitment of the Navy to ensure safe waters for both maritime commuters and businesses within the nation’s maritime domain.
