Navy uncovers illegal bunkering site in private residence, arrests two
The Nigeria Navy has apprehended two suspected oil thieves operating an illegal bunkering site concealed in their private residence in Rivers, an official has said.
The commander, Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in Port Harcourt, Commodore Desmond Igbo, said this on Wednesday when he took journalists to the site in Okwuzi community of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area on Wednesday.
Mr Igbo said that during a raid on the building, the naval operatives discovered 200,000 litres of illegally refined diesel stored in the compound.
“The operation was conducted based on credible intelligence, leading us to a private compound used solely for illegal refining of petroleum products.
“About 200,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, bagged in sacks, are suspected to be a product of crude oil siphoned from pipelines in the area,” he said.
Mr Igbo described the operation as timely, adding that the product was already packaged for sale.
“We arrested the owner of the property and one of his workers while efforts are ongoing to arrest others involved in the criminal act.
“Recall that a few weeks ago, the Nigerian Navy relaunched phase three of Operation Delta Sanity aimed at curbing crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and related illicit activities in the Niger Delta.
“The stealing of crude oil is bad for the economy, and so, NNS Pathfinder is determined to apprehend those undermining the nation’s economy, whether on land or water,” Mr Igbo said.
He further said that the suspects would be handed over to the prosecuting agencies.
According to him, the illegal bunkering site has been sealed while investigation commences.
He said that the navy had been challenged to increase the country’s crude oil output to meet the OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day for this year.
Mr Igbo said that the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanual Ogalla, has charged naval forces to enhance surveillance around the oil installations to meet the target.
“Therefore, youths are cautioned to avoid being used as tools for sabotaging the nation’s economy through oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering and other illegal activities,” he said.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Africa
Guterres demands Africa’s minerals create jobs, backs permanent UN seats
António Guterres has demanded an end to the plundering of Africa’s mineral resources, insisting the continent’s wealth must create jobs and prosperity for Africans.
Economy
Nigeria push for end of exploitation of Africa’s mineral resources at UNGA81
President Bola Tinubu has called for a fresh continental push to end the exploitation of Africa’s critical mineral resources.
Heading 4
Lawyer Ikeni Mbako-Allison suspended after being found guilty of harassing woman in UK
“Ikeni Mbako-Allison, a barrister, behaved in a way which is likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public would place in him or in the profession,” the BSB said.
Abuja
Dangote Refinery: Abuja motorists, commuters decry delay in petrol price cuts
Motorists and commuters across Abuja have decried petrol stations’ failure to reduce petrol prices following the Dangote Refinery’s latest N25 per litre cut.
Anti-Corruption
Crown Medical Solutions, owners reach agreement with U.S. govt over fraudulent billing scheme
Crown and its owners, Michelle and Philanzo King, have agreed to pay $825,000 to resolve allegations of submitting false claims to Medicare for payment.
World
UK govt charges Vincent ‘Bajinya’ Brown with crimes linked to Rwandan genocide
The UK police, in a statement on Monday, said Mr Brown was the first to be charged in the UK over a link to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
