In continuation of its war on pipeline vandals and crude oil thieves, operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) yesterday nabbed six suspects in Rivers State.
This is just as NN personnel attached to the NNS BEECROFT in Lagos raided vandals’ haven around Atlas Cove, seizing hundreds of kegs the fleeing criminals abandoned.
In an operation led by the Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Abraham Adaji, the naval men, who restrained from shooting the vandals to avoid fire outbreaks, confiscated 21 drums of 250 litres each loaded with stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Also seized was a wooden Cotonou boat laden with 245 empty drums measuring 250 litres each and 91 empty Jerry cans measuring 25 litres each, while the suspects jumped into the water to evade arrest.
Confirming the developments, Director, Naval information, Commodore Chris Ezekobe said the group ran out of luck as the naval team which was on routine surveillance patrol of the area discovered they were loading PMS from the NNPC Single point mooring at Atlas cove.
He also disclosed that the six suspects nabbed in Rivers were being interrogated, adding that personnel on NNS PATHFINDER picked them up from a large warehouse at Ogbogoro Uzoba waterside around Choba.
“The suspects who are now undergoing investigation were picked up from a large warehouse located at Ogbogoro Uzoba waterside around Choba in Port Harcourt Rivers State.
“The raid is in continuation of the Chief of the Naval Staff’s strong resolve to stamp out all forms of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries and other unwholesome activities that have impacted negatively on the security and economic development of Nigeria.
“The warehouse is suspected to serve as a storage facility for illegally refined products. Also discovered in the facility include three wooden boats containing about 20,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO, 350 drums, several GP and metal tanks ranging from 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 litres storage capacity as well as seven pumping machines.
“In addition, another Navy patrol team deployed from NNS DELTA discovered and destroyed two illegal refineries in Jones creek in Warri South West local Government Area of Delta State. The items also destroyed in the site include a Cotonou boat laden with about 66,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, four GP storage tanks measuring 500 litres each. The GP tanks contain 2,000 metric tons of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.
“Other items discovered at the site are 50 Jerry cans measuring 50 litres each containing 2.5 MT of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO, pumping machine, large metal tanks and a Cotonou boat,” said Ezekobe. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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