Navy Demolishes Illegal Refineries in Delta

By Dipo Olowookere

Several illegal refineries in Delta State have been demolished by personnel of the Nigerian Navy as part of effort to curtail crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region of the country.

In the last week, a patrol team deployed by NNS DELTA discovered and destroyed a total of 10 illegal refineries at a camp around Jones Creek, Warri South West LGA of Delta State.

The facilities destroyed during the raid include 200 metal tanks, 35 dug pits loaded with about 3,000 metric tons (MT) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 1,500MT of illegally refined AGO.

Similarly, a patrol team deployed by the Base arrested a suspect and destroyed a network of six illegal refineries around Ugbodede and Asugbo Creeks in Warri South LGA.

The facilities destroyed in the sites during the raid include 25 metal tanks and 14 dug pits laden with about 2,590MT of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 415MT of illegally refined AGO. In the course of the operation 1 suspect was arrested.

Additionally, another patrol team deployed for anti-illegal bunkering/crude oil theft operations by the same naval base arrested two suspects and destroyed a network of illegal refineries around Ugbodede Creek in Warri South LGA.

The facilities destroyed in the raid include a canvas storage pit laden with about 1,500MT of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.

The team also discovered and disconnected a 6 inch metal pipe attached to an oil well used for siphoning crude oil.

Furthermore, a NNS DELTA patrol team discovered and destroyed about 20 illegal refineries dump yard stores around Ugbuwangue Community in Warri South LGA.

The facilities destroyed in the raid include 1,300 drums laden with about 150MT of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.

In the course of the operation, one suspect was arrested. In a similar operations carried out by patrol team deployed by NNS PATHFINDER around marine Base axis, a wooden boat laden with some quantity of suspected illegally refined AGO was arrested.

Four suspects were also arrested in connection with the products.

Also, a patrol team from the Base deployed at Taraba Jetty intercepted another wooden boat laden with an estimated 50,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO with 4 suspects.

The vessel and suspects have been handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for further action. In view of the foregoing, 8 suspects were arrested at different locations as highlighted earlier.

The NN is assuring all legitimate maritime operators that the Service is determined to execute its mandate in order to enhance security in the nation’s maritime environment.