The Nigeria Navy (NN) at the weekend stepped up the destruction of illegal refineries in the Niger Delta following the launching of “Operation Ex Toru-Gbown” (Waterways Protection).
The Navy, in the four-day exercise, destroyed at least 100 established illegal refinery camps and new ones using a swamp buggy.
The Commander, Naval Ship, NNS Soroh, Yenagoa, Commodore Felix Esekhile, who led one of the operations at Okarki, a border town between Bayelsa and Rivers, said the Navy had destroyed the area five times this year.
According to him, the fight against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft had been intensified following the purchase of equipment, such as speedboats, acquired by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
He warned persons involved in the illegal business to move out of the command’s area of responsibility as the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, Yenagoa, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, had directed that all the illegal refineries be flushed out.
Vice Admiral Ibas said the Navy also discovered massive production of illegal fuel in Oluasiri and destroyed hundreds of crude oil cooking drums in the area.
The Chief Staff Officer (CSO), Central Naval Command, Commodore Joseph Akpan, said the exercise was to consolidate on previous operations. “This is a swamp buggy operation in our push against oil theft and other forms of illegalities involving crude and refined products.
“We have recorded some successes and just like the FOC said during the inauguration of this operation in Warri, this is also to test the combat-readiness of specific bases under the AoR of the Central Naval Command.
“You can see that we have destroyed this same area before and all the attempts they are making to reconstruct them.
“This is to send a signal that the command will not relent in our efforts to put everything available, including intelligence, to make sure that these illegal refineries are not revitalized,” Akpan said.
To Advertise or Publish a Story on NaijaLiveTv:
Kindly contact us @ Naijalivetv@gmail.com
Call or Whatsapp: 07035262029, 07016666694, 08129340000
