Nigerian Navy clampdown on crude oil theft, other criminal activities

Kenneth Ibinabo
Kenneth Ibinabo
Oil thieves and illegal refinery

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has stepped up efforts in the ongoing clampdownon crude oil theft and illegal bunkery activities in the Niger Delta which has led to destruction of more illegal refineries and arrest of perpetrators.

In one of the sites raided by the patrol team deployed by NNS DELTA on 8 Nov 2016, the team destroyed about 10 metric tonnes (MT) of product suspected to be Automotive GasOil (AGO) in Ogbodede Community in Warri South LGA of Delta State.

This is a follow up to an earlier raid in which three persons were arrested for their involvement in illegal bunkery operations.

In a related development, the NN said it has observed that illegal refinery operators in the Niger Delta now refine Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) against the popular Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

The latest development, according to the service, affirms the desperation by these criminal elements to devise other means of perpetuating economic sabotage.

A statement by Commodore Christian Ezekobe, Director of Information, preliminary investigation has proven that the illegal refinery operators have chosen to refine Kerosene to conveniently sell to innocent customers who are mostly local users.

“The NN and other security agencies will continue to wage onslaught on these criminals in an effort to stop the illicit business.

“Consequently, the NN wishes to warn the general public particularly local consumers on the dangers of patronizing adulterated DPK and to further state that the product is not good for domestic use.”

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