The Nigerian Navy has successfully dismantled a large-scale illegal refinery in Rivers State.
The operation, conducted by NNS Pathfinder, involved the destruction of over 500 crude oil cooking drums using a swamp buggy. This action was in response to the Chief of Naval Staff’s directive to eradicate oil theft and illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta.
The illegal refinery, connected to an NNPC oil wellhead, was used to siphon crude oil for refining. It was discovered after extensive intelligence and surveillance efforts by the Navy.
Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Cajethan Nnabuchi Aniaku, explained that the oil thieves had adopted a new tactic of using drums for refining. This method, he said, was more efficient due to the drums’ ease of construction and dismantling.
The ongoing operation has so far destroyed over 500 drums, as well as numerous dug-out pits and ovens, with a combined daily capacity of over 2 million liters of illegally refined petroleum products.
Commodore Aniaku issued a strong warning to those involved in illegal refining activities, stating that the Navy would continue its efforts to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure.
“In line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s directive, we discovered a massive illegal refining site in the Ogoloma area,” he said.
“Our personnel moved in and found that the oil thieves had shifted from using large metal pans to drums, which are cheaper and easier to hide. This operation is ongoing, and we will not relent in our efforts to destroy these illegal sites.”
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