The Central Naval Command in Yenagoa has seized some two million litres of illegally refined diesel and over one million substances suspected to be crude during a raid on six illegal refineries.
The illegal refineries were operated by suspected oil thieves at Bilabiri Community in the Ekeremor local government area of Bayelsa, NAN reports.
According to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Adm. Apochi Suleiman, six wooden boats laden with diesel which the oil thieves used to transport illegally refined products to the high sea were impounded.
He said the troops also discovered and seized electricity generating sets, pipes, hoses and other equipment used by thieves to siphon crude.
READ ALSO: Navy Begins Destruction Of Illegal Refineries In Rivers
Usman, who was accompanied by the deputy command operations, Capt. Mustapha Hassan, and other officers, said destroying the products would cause huge environmental hazard in the area.
The FOC stated that the command discovered the illegal refineries on Wednesday, September 30 through intelligence gathering.
He explained that the illegal operation covered an area of over 100 hectares dotted with stolen products in Bilabiri community.
Usman noted that the command would not tolerate any form of criminality in the region which includes crude oil thrifts and pipeline vandalism.
READ ALSO: 2 DSS Officials Gunned Down By Oil Vandals In Lagos
He warned the oil thieves and vandals to stop their criminal activities as anybody caught in the act would be punished severely.
Three weeks ago, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder from Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, destroyed some illegal refining sites. Four suspects were arrested after they approached the naval officers in an attempt to bribe them to stop preventing illegal bunkering.
The post Navy Continues Crackdown On Oil Thieves, Seizes Stolen Crude And Other Items appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.
Navy Continues Crackdown On Oil Thieves, Seizes Stolen Crude And Other Items
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