By DECAN
The Nigerian Navy has disrupted attempts by criminal elements to revive illegal refining activities in Rivers, recovering about 103,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The operation was conducted on Aug. 22 by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER around the Ohaji axis of Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.
A statement by Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, said the operation followed credible intelligence on the reactivation of illegal refining activities in the area.
The naval troops discovered three illegal refining sites containing 12 dugout pits, sacks and reservoirs filled with the suspected illegally refined products.
The troops also recovered two pumping machines used in the illegal refining activities.
The latest operation came barely a week after NNS PATHFINDER disrupted two illegal refining sites in the same general area on Aug. 15.
The Navy said the successive operations had constrained efforts by criminal elements to rebuild illegal refining infrastructure in the area.
It added that the repeated interventions had also resulted in a noticeable decline in attempts to reactivate illegal refining sites.
According to the statement, the recovered products, illegal refining sites and associated equipment were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.
It said no arrest was made because the operators had fled before the arrival of the naval troops.
The Navy said the latest operation demonstrated the impact of sustained pressure on infrastructure supporting illegal refining and crude oil theft.
It said the operations were denying criminal elements the capacity to restore their illicit activities and inflicting pressure on networks involved in economic sabotage.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining Operation DELTA SENTINEL to protect the nation’s oil and gas assets.
It also pledged continued efforts to disrupt economic sabotage and create a secure environment for legitimate oil production and investment.
