The Nigeria Navy has apprehended two suspected oil thieves operating an illegal bunkering site concealed in their private residence in Rivers State.
It was learnt that the owner of the property has been arrested.
Commodore Desmond Igbo, Commander of Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in Port Harcourt, made the declaration of the discovery.
The raid, conducted in the Okwuzi community of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, uncovered 200,000 litres of illegally refined diesel stored on the premises.
“The operation was conducted based on credible intelligence, leading us to a private compound used solely for
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.
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.
“ Remember 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,” Igbo said.
He added “that the suspects would be transferred to the prosecuting authorities”.
He also said that the illegal bunkering site had been closed off and an investigation had begun.
He indicated that the navy had been tasked with boosting the country’s crude oil production to reach this year’s OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day.
Igbo stated that Chief of Naval Staff Emmanual Ogalla had instructed naval forces to increase surveillance around oil installations to achieve the goal.
“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.
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