Five suspected illegal crude oil refiners have been arrested by the Nigerian Navy (NN) for towing an expansive metallic barge loaded with several million litres of adulterated diesel.
The Base Operations Officer, Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, Commander Umar Sidi, disclosed this while handing over the five suspects to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday.
According to Commander Sidi, the troops made the arrest and seizures during its ongoing Operation River Dominance, which began in January to support the Rivers government’s campaign against illegal refineries in the state.
The Naval officer, who explained that the troops also apprehended a tanker truck transporting suspected adulterated diesel for distribution to unsuspecting users in the state, said; “Troops arrested a tug boat, MV Bonny River, towing a large barge, Kanye, at Kilometre five River with an unspecified quantity of petroleum product suspected to be illegally refined diesel.
“Our patrol team also arrested a tanker truck laden with suspected adulterated diesel at Makoba area during the operation. A total of five male suspects were arrested in connection with the crime.”
He further said apart from the recent arrest, about 35 rogue vessels and wooden boats carrying various quantities of petroleum products had also been seized since the operations commenced in the state.
Commander Sidi the successes so far recorded in the exercise were due to the robust collaboration among security agencies, government, and residents of the state, adding; “Our tactical Riverine Assault Squadron will continue to conduct missions to deter criminals from sabotaging national assets and the economy.
“Illegal bunkers are very resilient, in such that immediately operation is conducted and their illegal refining sites destroyed, the criminals come back later and resuscitate it or open another site. But we will remain determined and resolute in ensuring that we continue to maintain an aggressive presence at sea and in the waterways to stop them,” he said.
Assuring that the exercise would continue until the state is cleansed of illegal crude oil refiners, who are partly responsible for the soot pollution across the state, the Base Operations Officer said the Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed has demonstrated resolve to stop all forms of crime and criminality in the maritime environment under the base.
Receiving the suspects and the recovered items, an officer of the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of EFCC, Mr Arasha Shaka said the anti-graft Commission would immediately swing into action and commence investigation into the matter.
Shaka said if found guilty of the allegations, all the suspects would be charged to court immediately. – With NAN reports
